Minhagim/simanim
Why do we eat apples and honey?
For a sweet new year!
Why is it a minhag to visit burial of Tzadikim? (2)
1. our davening is stronger there
2. we ask for their help in asking Hashem for a good year, and to be forgiven.
ראש השנה - explain
Head rules over the body and same with us. How we act on this day, will affect the rest of our year.
Why do we ask Hashem to
"install fear and awe"
of Hashem in other people?
It brings us to greater merits and hashem hears us. Hears were asking for others.
Summarize the story of the Baal Shemtov and the Baal Tokeiah (person blowing the shofar)
what is this coming to teach us?
He forgot eveyrthing Baal ShemTov taught him, so when time came to blow shofar he just blew from his heart.
no matter what, Hashem wants to hear from us, he loves us and hes there for us.
Symbolizes 613 mitzvos, bc of its many seeds. We hope to be as full of merits like pomegranates are full of seeds.
what is it? התרת נדרים
Nullifying promises we made to ourselves. Making sure the Malachim dont have anything negative to use against us.
יום תרועה -
what does it mean and why is it another name for Rosh Hashana
"Day of blasts"
Because we blow the shofar on this day. It’s one of the main Mitzvos of Rosh Hashanah
Shir Hamalos - what is a translation we discussed, why does it relate to R"H?
"from the depths I call out to you hashem" - during elul and on R"H we dig deep inside, self reflect and we call out to Hashem.
Names of Shofar sounds and the sounds they make
Tekiah _______
shvarim ___ ___ ___
Teruah _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Tekiah Gedola ______________________
Why do we eat a fish head?
Rosh Hashana means head of the year. So we can be like a head and not a tail, to be a leader not a follower.
What dont we do Erev R"H that we do during elul and why dont we continue?
Blow shofar.
1. to separate minhag from mitzvah
2. confuse satan of the actual date of RH
יום הזכּרון -
what does it mean and why is it another name for Rosh Hashana
"Day of remembrances"
This is when we're remembered by Hashem. What we’ve done this past year, the good, not so good...
Hamelech, mashal and lesson.
Why didnt you come to me earlier? Coming close to Hashem on R"H should last us the whole year.
Its best to do a Mitzvah as soon as possible so with shofar why do we wait until closer to the end of davening?
This actually works in our benefit. The satan appears in the court in shamayim as soon as he hears the shofar sounding. But then he has no defense. Because look, B”Y davened, read the Torah, said Shema etc. They deserve to win bc of all these merits.
Why round challah dipped in honey?
circle shape represents the cycle of the year, no beginning and no end, and the hope for a full and complete year ahead..
What do we add before R"H? why?
More! More good, kindness, mitzvos, torah learning
to show hashem we mean it when we ask for forgiveness, and that we do really want to change.
יום הדין
what does it mean, and why is it another name for R"H
Hashem judges us and writes down our judgement on this day. Judging us from a place of mercy.
R' Akiva. Bc he saw how much power it help. story of hunger and drought, said it and it instantly rained.
Mashal of princes. What does it have to do with R"H and Shofar?
We want to talk to Hashem but sometimes, our mouths can't, because we misused them with sins. So Hashem gave us the Shofar, a wordless cry that comes straight from our heart and soul. That cry breaks through and Hashem recognizes it no matter what.
Name three Sfardi Minhagim
Leeks, dates, beets, small beans
What do we prepare before Yom Tov starts? Why?
24 hr candle, so we can cook with it and use it to light candles the second night.
Name all of the names of RH, hebrew English and their explanation.
- יום תרועה
Because we blow the shofar on this day. It’s one of the main Mitzvos of Rosh Hashanah
יום הזכּרון
This is when we're remembered by Hashem. What we’ve done this past year, the good, not so good...
יום הדין
Hashem judges us and writes down our judgement on this day. Judging us from a place of mercy.
ראש השנה
Head rules over the body and same with us. How we act on this day, will affect the rest of our year.
name the 3 renewals of the world and what they symbolize
1. creation (malchios) - hashem became our king, we didnt use free will correctly.
2. after flood (zichronos) - Now, you'll be held accountable for your actions, didnt work again
3. matan torah (Shofros) - Hashem revealed himself more to us, and now were restoring the world.
From story of Baal ShemTov and Tokeiah, what was he being taught specifically about blowing the shofar?
The kavanos, and intentions while blowing it.