Blessings, Rituals and Conversation Starters for Your Rosh Hashanah Celebration

Shana tova! If you’re hosting a Rosh Hashanah celebration and want to add some elements beyond tearing into an apple cake, we’ve got you covered. No pressure, of course — if you and your family and/or friends just want to gather to eat a meal a special meal, that’s more than OK. But if you’re looking to dig a little deeper with blessings, rituals and conversation starters, this is for you.

And if you’re looking for even more guidance about how to host a meaningful, delicious, fun and well-decorated Rosh Hashanah — well, we’ve handled that, too. We made you a free 16-page Rosh Hashanah mini magazine that includes a variety of menus, a “How to Host” checklist, the blessings and conversation starters you’ll find below, tips on how to make things fun for the kids and decor ideas. However you decide to celebrate, we’re wishing you a sweet, happy new year.

Click here to download Kveller’s Guide to Hosting Rosh Hashanah. And read on for the abridged Jewish service to kick off the meal with, excerpted from our guide.

Light the holiday candles

Transliteration

Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu l’hadlik ner shel yom tov.

Hebrew

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְו‍ֹתָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב

English

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the holiday light.

Ask your guests: What has given you light this past year, and how are you hoping to bring in light during this coming year?

Recite the Shehechiyanu

Transliteration

Baruch Ata Adonai Eloheinu melech ha’olam, shehechiyanu, v’kiyimanu, v’higiyanu la’z’man ha’zeh.

Hebrew

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָֽנוּ וְקִיְּמָֽנוּ וְהִגִּיעָֽנוּ לַזְמַן הַזֶּה

English

Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, King of the Universe, who has kept us alive and sustained us, and brought us to this season.

Ask your guests: This prayer marks unprecedented times and special moments. What has been a standout moment for you this past year?

Say the blessing over wine

Transliteration

Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p’ri ha’gafen.

Hebrew

בָּרוּך אַתָּה אַדָנָי אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶך הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן

English

Blessed are You, God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Ask your guests: We drink wine to mark this moment as a celebration. What accomplishments do you want to celebrate this year?

Say the Hamotzi (and eat some challah!)

Transliteration

Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz.

Hebrew

בָּרוּך אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶך הָעוֹלָם הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ

English

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has brought forth bread from the earth.

Ask your guests: What helped sustain and nurture you this past year?

Bless the apples

Transliteration

Baruch Ata Adonai Eloheinu melech ha’olam borei p’ri ha’eitz. Y’hi ratzon mil’fanecha Adonai Eloheinu shetichadesh aleinu shanah tova u’metukah.

Hebrew

בָּרוּך אַתָּה אַדָנָי אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶך הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָעֵץ יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶךָ יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁתְחַדֵּש עָלֵינוּ שַׁנָּה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה

English

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree. May it be Your will, Adonai our God, that the new year will be good and sweet.

Ask your guests: Share something that made your day sweeter.

Download Kveller’s free Guide to Hosting Rosh Hashanah for more!