Rosh Hashanah: The Jewish New Year

Rosh Hashanah, meaning “head of the year” in Hebrew, marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year and is a time of reflection, renewal and looking ahead to the year to come. Celebrated over two days, Rosh Hashanah is both a festive and deeply meaningful holiday. Many Jewish families attend synagogue services, where they hear the blowing of the shofar, a ram’s horn that serves as a call to reflection and renewal. Families also gather for festive meals featuring symbolic foods, including apples dipped in honey to represent the hope for a sweet new year. Another traditional food is round challah, whose circular shape can symbolize the cycle of the year and the continuity of life. Other customs include wishing one another “Shana Tova,” meaning “a good year,” and, for many families, sharing a special meal with loved ones. At its heart, Rosh Hashanah invites individuals to reflect on the past year, seek forgiveness, consider how they can grow, and embrace the possibility of a fresh start. For educators, the holiday provides an opportunity to introduce students to Jewish traditions while exploring universal themes of reflection, responsibility, community, and new beginnings.

Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement

Yom Kippur, known as the Day of Atonement, is considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Taking place ten days after Rosh Hashanah, it marks the culmination of the High Holy Days, a period dedicated to reflection, repentance, and renewal. Yom Kippur is a solemn day when many Jewish people spend significant time in synagogue, participating in special prayers and services and reflecting on the past year. One of the central religious observances of Yom Kippur is fasting from food and drink for approximately 25 hours, allowing those observing the holiday to step away from everyday concerns and focus on spiritual reflection. The day is centred on teshuvah — returning or turning back — which encourages people to acknowledge mistakes, seek forgiveness from others and commit to making positive changes in the year ahead. The holiday concludes with the blowing of the shofar, marking the end of the fast and the close of the High Holy Days.

For educators, it is important to be mindful that students observing Yom Kippur may be fasting and likely be absent from school altogether. Fasting can affect energy levels, concentration, and participation, which may create challenges when students are expected to complete assessments, participate in physically demanding activities, or meet other academic expectations. Whenever possible, educators should approach these situations with flexibility and sensitivity, recognizing that religious observance may temporarily affect a student's ability to participate in the same way they normally would. Yom Kippur also provides an opportunity to explore universal themes of accountability, forgiveness, empathy and taking responsibility for our actions.

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