Subject Guide: Holidays

Rosh Hashanah is the celebration of the Jewish New Year occurring in the month of Tishrei. It is part of what are commonly referred to as the High Holidays. Rosh Hashanah begins the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim), a ten-day period of introspection which concludes with Yom Kippur. Conservative and Orthodox Jews observe Rosh Hashanah for two days, while most Reform communities celebrate the holiday for one day. 

Rosh Hashanah celebrations include the sounding the shofar (a hollowed-out ram's horn), following the prescription of the Hebrew Bible to "raise a noise" on Yom Teruah. Synagogue services are heavily attended. On the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, many participated in the ritual of tashlich, throwing crumbs, bread pieces, or bird seed in a flowing body of water. This represents sins being cast away. Festive meals are prepared including symbolic foods such as round challah or apples dipped in honey, evoking a sweet new year. Sephardic communities developed a Rosh Hashanah seder ritual to start the new year.

Most archival material is related to the tradition of sending Rosh Hashanah greeting cards. This tradition became popular after the invention of postcards in the 1860s, since it was an inexpensive way to send holiday greetings, particularly among those who had immigrated and spent holidays far from loved ones. Sending new year postcards hit a peak just before WWI. They were most popular among Jews in Europe and the United States, usually composed in Yiddish and called shone-toyves cards (Yiddish for “a good year”).

Williamsburg Art Co. Rosh Hashanah Greeting Cards [Items are digitized and available to view online]

Collection of Rosh Hashanah Greeting Cards

Postcards and Greeting Cards 1910's-1960's

The collection consists of several thousand illustrated postcards and greeting cards. Included are rare postcards bearing artistic illustrations, photographic images and poetic texts, and cards depicting folklore and religious themes, such as the Jewish New Year and other holidays. The greeting cards relate primarily to the New Year.

Hebrew Publishing Company Collection

Collection contains Jewish New Year greeting cards printed in Germany for the Hebrew Publishing Company in the early 20th century.

Apples and pomegranates: a family seder for Rosh Hashanah / Rahel Musleah; illustrations by Judy Jarrett. Minneapolis, MN: Kar-Ben Publishing, 2004.

A cultural Rosh Hashone observance / compiled and edited by Joanne Borts. New York: Workmen's Circle / Arbeter Ring, 2008.

The destiny of the Jew in the light of the world war: Rosh Hashanah sermon, preached at Temple Beth-El, New York City on Thursday morning, September 9, 1915 / Samuel Schulman.

For form of prayers for the feast of New-Year: according to the custom of the German and Polish Jews / with an English translation, carefully revised, by Samuel Summer. Vienna: Jos. Schlesinger, 1890. Digitized here.

Ladino hymns for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur / compiled by Rev. David J. Behar. Seattle, WA: Congregation Ezra Bessaroth, 1963.

Maḥzor Lev shalem: for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur / New York, NY: Rabbinical Assembly, 2010.

Rosh Hashanah / Eugene J. Sack. New York: National Jewish Welfare Board, 1954.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: Sweet Beginnings / by Malka Drucker; drawings by Brom Hoban. New York: Holiday House, c1981.

Rosh Hashoneh: Rosh Hashone Dinner / New York: Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring, 2009.

Yom Teruah: The Shofar and its meaning on Rosh Hashanah / Jack Douek. Sephardic Heritage Foundation, Inc., 2006.