Simanim (special 'sign' foods)
What does almost every Jew in the world eat to symbolise a sweet new year?
Apples and honey
For how many days is Rosh Hashanah is Israel?
Two
What is the Torah reading about on 1st Day of Rosh Hashanah?
Sarah (Avraham's wife) giving birth
How is Rosh Hashanah referred to in the Torah?
Yom Teruah - a day of blowing the shofar
What are some traditions about what is put on the Rosh Hashanah table to symbolise being the 'head' of the new year?
Fish head (Ashkenazi) & Sheep head
What is a shofar made out of?
The horn of any kosher animal
What three things can help secure a good judgement on Rosh Hashanah?
Teshuvah (repentance), Tefillah (prayer), Tzedakah (doing the right things)
What is the Torah reading about on the second day of Rosh Hashanah?
The Akeidah
What is Rosh Hashanah the anniversary of?
Creation of humans
Why do we eat round challah on Rosh Hashanah? (There are multiple right answers)
To symbolise the cycle of the year
Name four reasons why the shofar is blown.
1) To coronate Hashem as King of the world, 2) To warn us to do teshuva, 3) Remembering Avraham and the Akeidah, 4) Reminder of the Mashiach
What is the day after Rosh Hashanah called (if it is not Shabbat)?
Tzom Gedaliah (Fast of Gedaliah)
What is the story described in the Haftorah of the 1st day of Rosh Hashanah?
The prophet Shmuel being born to Chana & Elkanah
Why is Rosh Hashanah not in Nisan, the first month of the Jewish year?
Nisan is when the Jews came out of Egypt and became a nation. Rosh Hashanah is in Tishrei when G-d created the world.
Do you have to eat the simanim, or can you just look at them?
Best to look at and eat them, but if you don't enjoy them or are worried about insects you can look at them.
Is the mitzvah to blow the shofar or to listen to it?
To listen to it
On which three days can Rosh Hashanah NOT begin?
Sunday, Wednesday or Friday
What is the story described in the Haftorah of the 2nd day of Rosh Hashanah?
The ingathering of the exiles
What are the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah?
10 Days of repentance (beginning on Rosh Hashanah and ending on Yom Kippur)
Why do we say a bracha on apple and honey if we have already made hamotzi on bread?
Because apple and honey is not considered a typical meal food, and so needs its own bracha.
How many sounds of the shofar in total are customarily sounded on Rosh Hashanah?
100
What is the name of the traditional white robe worn by many on Rosh Hashanah?
A Kittel
How many people are called up to the Torah on Rosh Hashanah (excluding maftir)?
5
What is this recipe traditionally called: Carrots, honey apricots, raisins, cinnamon, orange juice, brown sugar, prunes, stew meat?
Tzimmus