The Jewish New Year is known as Rosh Hashanah. This means head of the year. The New Year begins on the first day of the Jewish month of 'Tishri', which is in autumn. In the Jewish temples the shofar (ram's horn) is sounded, which is a call to Jewish people to repent. According to the Jews God decides the fate of an individual for the year on New Year's Day. On the tenth day of Tishri, called Yom Kippur, the Jews fast for the whole day. It is the holiest day for the Jews. They offer prayers to god and repent for their sins on this day. Many Jews wear white ceremonial clothes as a symbol of purity and renewal. People wear new clothes and avoid wearing leather on New Year's Day. They break their fast at the end of the day, after sunset, with a feast that is shared by family and friends.

Jews prepare and eat special food on New Year's Day. People eat apples and honey, which symbolizes a sweet year ahead. Dates, figs and pomegranates are also eaten. Some also eats egg bread, which is supposed to represent God's crown. East European Jews eat brisket, Gefilte fish, turkey and honey cake. Moroccan Jews eat fritters in honey and blue plum pie.

For the Jews New Year's Day is a day of prayer, repentance and fasting that finally culminates in a feast and celebration.