Why does the celebration, Rosh Hashanah, come before the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur?
As I spent hours this week crafting a Rosh Hashanah cake, my mind wandered to the curious order of the High Holy Days. It has always struck me as a bit backwards. Shouldn’t we tackle the soul-searching work of Yom Kippur first—repenting, atoning, fasting—before we let ourselves revel in the sweetness of a new year? Yet tradition flips my instincts. We begin with celebration, and only after ten days do we turn inward to reflect and repent.
Curious about why the High Holy Days are observed in this order, I began to explore both modern interpretations and traditional Jewish teachings. An article by My Jewish Learning explained it beautifully: “Rosh Hashanah is given to us in support of our natural inclination to dream about how next year can be better than the last. Yom Kippur comes 10 days later, so we can evaluate whether we’ve made the right commitments. It is a blessing and a divine kindness that we’re given this chance to ‘proofread’ our new promises.”
Additionally, classical teachings from the Talmud suggest that Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur together serve as a period of spiritual evaluation, during which we transition from introspection to taking tangible actions, aligning our intentions with divine judgment.
Suddenly, the order feels right. Rosh Hashanah is not just a celebration, but a time to reflect on and chart our growth for the year ahead. The Days of Awe provide us with space to refine our intentions, ensuring that our plans truly guide us forward. When Yom Kippur arrives, we fast, pray, and seek forgiveness, trusting that our efforts will be weighed and our names inscribed for another year of life.
As Yom Kippur approaches, I find myself sifting through my promises for the new year, much like I measured each ingredient for that Rosh Hashanah cake—though perhaps with a bit more humility. To create a future that is sweet, we must be thoughtful about what we add to our lives, blending the right intentions to create something truly meaningful.
If we lean too heavily on one ingredient and neglect another, the results fall flat. I am striving to ensure that my promises encompass every aspect of my life and maintain balance. I am asking myself: How can I be a better wife, friend, and member of my community? What can I do this year to honor the earth, the greatest gift we have been given? How can I approach every situation with love and still be discerning?
My Personal Insights into the High Holy Days
When we carefully address each of these aspects of life with intention, the results create something beautiful. So, what are some things I plan to do to improve? I plan to continue growing in my Jewish community by being active and socializing whenever possible. I plan to be more consistent in reading the Tanakh at home.
I plan to honor my relationships by being grateful for them each day. Please share with me your goals and intentions for the new year, as well as the traditions you keep during the High Holy Days. I love learning about your experiences in Judaism.
And this big, beautiful earth we’ve been given so generously, I will be a more thoughtful and appreciative steward of the land. I will spend time outdoors appreciating our gift while continuing to learn all I can about gardening, including growing food and living off the land as our ancestors did. Your list of promises may look different than mine, and the traditions you keep may vary, but our goals are the same: to become better than we were before and grow closer to God.
For those of you who are new to the Jewish faith or are less observant, I am going to quote one of my favorite Orthodox Jewish influencers, The Challah Mom. “Judaism isn’t all or nothing. It doesn’t happen all at once. Take steps each week to adopt a new Jewish Tradition, and whatever you do, don’t feel overwhelmed. Shana Tova!
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