In the News  ||  Media Releases  ||  Events  ||  Jewish Life & Celebrations  ||  Careers  ||  Newsletter

Jewish Life & Celebrations

Rosh Hashanah

A Cultural Rosh Hashana at Home

Rabbi Judith Seid
This is an extract from Judith Seid’s book, God-Optional Judaism, Citadel Press, 2001. Rabbi Seid is the author of We Rejoice in Our Heritage: Home Rituals for Secular and Humanistic Jews, and God-Optional Judaism: Alternatives for Cultural Jews who Love Their History, Heritage, and Community. Rabbi Seid is also the cultural leader at Tri-Valley Cultural Jews in Pleasanton, California. Visit Rabbi Seid at www.SecularJewishWeddings.com
The ritual statements are from We Rejoice in Our Heritage: Home Rituals for Secular and Humanistic Jews, Kopinvant Press.

The weekend before the holiday, take a trip to a pick-your-own apple orchard or a farmer’s market. Get lots of different kinds of apples. Pick up some you’ve never tried before – after all, Rosh Hashana is about newness and fresh starts.

On Rosh Hashana, find a place where there’s running water, a small lake or pond or stream. If no body of water is handy, stay home or go to some other beautiful place outdoors. Set out candles, wine, apples, challah, and honey. Light the candles, using the Ashrei (short ritual statement) from “We Rejoice in Our Heritage: Home Rituals for Secular and Humanistic Jews” (Judith Seid, Kopinvant Press, distributed through CSJO, 19657 Villa Drive North, Southfield, MI 48076) or use any other poem, saying, or song you like. Ask everyone present to share a special light from the year past and a commitment to how they will share their own light in the year to come.

Next, pass around the glass of wine. Say or sing the Ashrei or anything else you’d like. Ask everyone to share a happy time from the past year and a time they’re looking forward to in the year to come.

Next comes the challah. It’s round, to symbolize the continuity of life. Talk about the things you treasure that come around every year. Cut up the challah and dip the pieces into honey. Wish each other a sweet new year. If this is the first time you’ve ever made challah, say a Secular Shehecheyanu for that: “We rejoice in our heritage, which has given us the indomitable spirit that has preserved our people and sustained us and brought us forward to this moment.” Or just say it because you are happy to be together with your friends and family on a holiday. Or because you have decided that just because you don’t have a community is no reason not to celebrate – it takes a lot of that indomitable spirit to prepare for and celebrate a holiday all alone.

Now there is time for a little reflection. Take a moment to think of the ways you want to change your life this year. Share with others, or just make this a time for quiet reflection.
When you’re ready, it’s time for tashlich. Walk over to the water and empty the crumbs from your pockets into it. Say to yourself or share with others what you’re getting rid of – it can be a feeling, a habit, an old worry. Watch it float away from you. If you like, you can also throw flowers or flower petals into the water, as a symbol of sharing the good things about you with others, or to add beauty to the place where you just threw your junk.

The atmosphere turns festive again as you return to the table or picnic blanket for an apple tasting. Don’t forget to dip them into honey!


We rejoice in our heritage, which has given us the tradition of lighting the holiday candles.

Ashreinu bi’rushateinu she’masrah
lanu et hatoreshet
l’hadlik ner shel yom-tov.

We rejoice in our heritage, which has given us the cup of wine as the symbol of our happiness.

Ashreinu bi’rushateinu she’masrah lanu
kos pri hagafen l’mo’adim
u’l’simkha ki samakhnu b’khageinu

We rejoice in our heritage, which teaches us to love our earth which gives us the fruit of the trees (for eating apples with honey)

Ashreinu bi’rushateinu she’morah lanu
le’ehov et ha’adama,
matsmikhat pri ha’etz.

Back to Rosh Hashanah

Back to Jewish Life & Celebrations