Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, and it’s a little different from the New Year you’re used to. There’s no countdown. No champagne. (Well, maybe a little wine.) Instead, Rosh Hashanah (meaning Head of the Year) marks the start of the High Holidays, a ten-day period of reflection that culminates in Yom Kippur (meaning Day of Atonement), the holiest day of the Jewish year.
Rosh Hashanah’s big themes are reflection, renewal, and accountability. Jews around the world use this time to look back at the past year, think about who they want to be and how they can be a little better in the year ahead.
A Rosh Hashanah reading can be a prayer, a poem, a quote, or even a song lyric, no Hebrew required, as long as it helps you start the new year with intention.
Below, we’ve included some of our favorite readings, and you’ll find more in our free High Holidays booklet, packed with readings for both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as blessings and a Personal Roadmap for starting the year right.
You can also buy our High Holidays booklet on Amazon here. (We sell it at cost to keep the price low.)
Two Rosh Hashanah Readings We Love
The Beginning of the Journey
Adapted from a traditional prayer
May I begin this year fresh and open to the possibility of transformation. Though the future is uncertain, I release this past year with all its difficulties and joys. I open my heart to receive the blessings of the New Year.
May I return to my true self and be strengthened as I continue my journey of tikkun halev (repairing the heart), tikkun hanefesh (repairing the soul), and tikkun olam (repairing the world).
This one is short, simple, and quietly powerful. The concept of tikkun olam (repairing the world) is central to Judaism and is a beautiful sentiment to start the new year with.
Each Second – Pablo Casals
Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that never was before and will never be again…
You are a marvel. You are unique. In all of the world there is no other child like you… You must cherish one another. You must work — we all must work to make this world worthy of its children.
Written by the legendary cellist Pablo Casals, “Each Second” is all about gratitude and what we owe each other. Which, TBH, is pretty much what the High Holidays are about.
These two are just a taste. Our free High Holidays booklet includes a full collection of Rosh Hashanah readings, from Rabbi David J. Wolpe to What a Wonderful World, so you can find the ones that speak to you.
No Jewish background needed. No JewBarrassment® guaranteed.
For the Traditionalists: Torah Readings for Rosh Hashanah
If you’re attending synagogue (or just curious what’s actually being read), here’s a quick rundown.
First Day of Rosh Hashanah
The Torah reading for the first day of Rosh Hashanah is from Genesis 21 and includes the birth of Isaac, the story of Hagar and Ishmael, and God’s promise to protect them. The haftarah (an accompanying reading from Prophets) is Hannah’s prayer from the Book of Samuel, the story of a woman who desperately wants a child and pours her heart out to God. It’s deeply moving, and it sets the tone for the whole season of reflection.
In synagogue, each Torah reading is divided into sections, and Jewish people are called up to recite a blessing over each one. Each of these honors is called an aliyah (plural: aliyot). The final aliyah before the haftarah is called the maftir, typically given to someone the community wants to honor.
Second Day of Rosh Hashanah
On day two, the Torah reading shifts to Genesis 22, known as the Binding of Isaac (the Akedah), one of the most discussed and debated stories in all of Judaism. Rabbis, scholars, and the Talmud (the central text of Jewish law and commentary) and Midrash (collections of rabbinic interpretation and storytelling) have wrestled with this passage for centuries. The haftarah comes from the Book of Jeremiah.
The holiday also includes a special additional reading from Numbers 29, which describes the Rosh Hashanah sacrificial offerings from back in the day. (Yes, there’s a lot going on.)
You Might Also Be Wondering…
What is teshuvah, and what does it have to do with Rosh Hashanah readings?
Teshuvah means “repentance” or “return” in Hebrew, and it’s the spiritual heartbeat of the High Holidays. Many Rosh Hashanah readings are chosen specifically to help the reader reflect and begin the process of teshuvah. The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are considered the most important time of year for this kind of inner work.
When is Rosh Hashanah?
Rosh Hashanah falls on the first and second days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. On the secular calendar, it usually lands in September or October.
Is Rosh Hashanah anything like Shabbat?
A little! Both are observed with candle lighting, wine, and a special meal. But Rosh Hashanah is a full two-day holiday, and the themes are much bigger. Think of Shabbat as a weekly reset and Rosh Hashanah as the annual one.
How is Rosh Hashanah different from Passover or Shavuot?
All three are major Jewish holidays, but they’re pretty different in focus. Passover (celebrated with a Seder, a ritual meal) commemorates the Jewish people’s exodus from slavery in Egypt. Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, focused on reflection and renewal rather than historical commemoration.
Are there readings focused on tzedakah or mitzvot?
Absolutely. Tzedakah (charitable giving) and mitzvot (commandments, or good deeds) are core values in Judaism, and plenty of Rosh Hashanah readings touch on both. The High Holidays are considered a meaningful time to recommit to acts of generosity and purpose. Our free High Holidays booklet includes readings that speak to exactly this.
Are there Psalms used as Rosh Hashanah readings?
Yes! Psalms are a beloved source of Rosh Hashanah readings, especially in traditional synagogue services. Psalm 27 in particular is recited daily from the month before Rosh Hashanah all the way through Sukkot. It’s a go-to for a reason.
Want the full picture on Rosh Hashanah? Head to our Rosh Hashanah page. We’ve got you.
