Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Jewish New Year. It is an autumn or fall holiday, at the beginning of the month of Tishrei, which is actually the seventh month of the Jewish year (counting from Nisan in the spring).

This Jewish holiday celebrates the completion of another year, and the beginnings of a new year. It is also the time for rejoicing, and reflecting. Rosh Hashanah usually occurs in September.

Lia Ben Cohen (Year 5) explains the festival of Rosh Hashanah and she celebrates this event with her family and friends: “As a family, we celebrated by dressing smartly in white and having a sweet dinner, which included toasted bread with cherry jam and chicken liver pate, vegetable soup, chicken cooked with dried fruits and honey, baked potatoes with herbs and finally honey cake with a tasty fruit salad. Also, we drink wine or grape juice with apple slices dipped in honey as a snack. It is a tradition to give presents, we received a rainbow mug.”

Lia also told us some traditional blessings for Rosh Hashanah:

*May you have a good and sweet year.

שתהיה לך שנה טובה ומתוקה.

*A year and its curses will end; a year and its blessings will start.

שנה וקללותיה תסתיים, שנה וברכותיה יתחילו.

* May it be that our merits increase like the seeds of a pomegranate.

יהי רצון שזכיותינו יתרבו כגרעיני רימון.

Mrs Whomsley (Head of Year 5) said: “We always encourage our pupils to share what makes them unique and this is a fantastic example of Lia doing just that. We can learn so much from each other when we hear about particular celebrations or special events. Thank you, Lia!”