Rosh Hashanah Study Guide

What is Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, marking the beginning of the High Holy Days and the start of the Ten Days of Repentance which culminate in Yom Kippur.

When is Rosh Hashanah celebrated?

Rosh Hashanah falls on the first and second days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually occurs in September or October.

What are the customs and traditions associated with Rosh Hashanah?

Blowing of the Shofar: The shofar, a ram's horn, is blown to awaken the spiritual connection and symbolize the call to repentance.
Tashlich: This ritual involves casting off sins by symbolically throwing breadcrumbs into a body of water, signifying the start of a clean slate for the new year.
Special Foods: Eating symbolic foods such as apples dipped in honey to signify a sweet new year, and round challah to represent the cycle of the year.

What is the significance of Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah is a time for self-examination and seeking forgiveness. It is believed that on this day, God opens the Book of Life and judges each person, deciding their fate for the coming year. It is a time for repentance, prayer, and acts of charity.

How is Rosh Hashanah celebrated?

Individuals attend synagogue services, engage in prayer, and participate in festive meals with family and friends. It is a time for expressing hope for a good year ahead and seeking blessings from God.

What are the greetings and wishes for Rosh Hashanah?

Common greetings include "Shanah Tovah" (a good year) and "L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem" (may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year).

◂Social Studies Worksheets and Study Guides Eighth Grade. Ancient Israel

The resources above cover the following skills:

National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (NCSS)

TIME, CONTINUITY, AND CHANGE

SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAMS SHOULD INCLUDE EXPERIENCES THAT PROVIDE FOR THE STUDY OF THE PAST AND ITS LEGACY.

KNOWLEDGE - Learners will understand:

Key historical periods and patterns of change within and across cultures (e.g., the rise and fall of ancient civilizations, the development of technology, the rise of modern nation-states, and the establishment and breakdown of colonial systems).

National Center for History in Schools (NCHS)

Historical Thinking Standards

Historical Comprehension

Reconstruct the literal meaning of a historical passage.

World History Content Standards

Era 2: Early Civilizations and the Emergence of Pastoral Peoples, 4000-1000 BCE

The major characteristics of civilization and how civilizations emerged in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus valley.

The student understands how Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus valley became centers of dense population, urbanization, and cultural innovation in the fourth and third millennia BCE.

The student understands how commercial and cultural interactions contributed to change in the Tigris-Euphrates, Indus, and Nile regions.

Major trends in Eurasia and Africa from 4000-1000 BCE.

The student understands major trends in Eurasia and Africa from 4000 to 1000 BCE.

Era 3: Classical Traditions, Major Religions, and Giant Empires, 1000 BCE-300 CE

Innovation and change from 1000-600 BCE horses, ships, iron, and monotheistic faith.

The student understands the emergence of Judaism and the historical significance of the Hebrew kingdoms.