Rosh Hashanah

noun

Rosh Ha·​sha·​nah ˌräsh-(h)ə-ˈshä-nə How to pronounce Rosh Hashanah (audio)
ˌrōsh-,
-ˈshō-
: the Jewish New Year observed on the first day and by Orthodox and Conservative Jews also on the second day of Tishri

Examples of Rosh Hashanah in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Another gave him sweets on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. Claire Parker, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2024 There are dishes that taste unmistakeably Indian—the Bene Israeli chik cha halva made from coconut milk, wheat extract, and sugar to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, for example—yet evoke a Jewish spirit. Meher Mirza, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2023 So, for instance, the Rosh Hashanah (the new year) doesn’t always fall on Jan. 1. Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2023 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is one of around 300,000 Jewish people who live in Ukraine, where thousands of pilgrims come to the Kyiv region every year to celebrate Rosh Hashanah at the place of burial of Rabbi Nachman. Yulia Drozd, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2023 Only a few weeks ago, on the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah, the two cousins were together — surrounded by loved ones — laughing and reminiscing on their families moving to Israel when the two were little. Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 18 Oct. 2023 Mark Kelly Of all the ways to observe Rosh Hashanah, leave it to the United Nations to do so by negating Jewish history. Eugene Kontorovich, WSJ, 28 Sep. 2023 Miller is returning to Temple Emanu-El on Friday night and Saturday to help celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Greg Garrison | , al, 14 Sep. 2023 At the same time, the reality is that her synagogue and many others posted security guards outside their buildings during Rosh Hashanah services last weekend and will do so again for Yom Kippur. Emily Wax-Thibodeaux, Washington Post, 23 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Rosh Hashanah.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Hebrew rōsh hashshānāh, literally, beginning of the year

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Rosh Hashanah was in 1594

Dictionary Entries Near Rosh Hashanah

Cite this Entry

“Rosh Hashanah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Rosh%20Hashanah. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Rosh Hashanah

noun
Rosh Ha·​sha·​nah ˌrōsh-hə-ˈshō-nə How to pronounce Rosh Hashanah (audio)
ˌrōsh-ə-,
ˌräsh-,
-ˈshän-ə
: the Jewish New Year observed as a religious holiday in September or October
Etymology

from Hebrew rōsh hashshānāh, literally, "beginning of the year"

More from Merriam-Webster on Rosh Hashanah

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!