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pp. 1318-1319
Guide to the Jewish Year
הֲלָכוֹת לְמוֹעֲדֵי הַשָּׁנָה
Visible layers
עֶרֶב רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה
Erev Rosh HaShana (29th of Elul)
7 The recitation of Seliḥot (the longest of the year) precedes regular Shaḥarit for weekdays. The congregation omits Taḥanun and shofar blowing [שו"ע ורמ"א או"ח, תקפא: ג].
8 It is customary to say the formula of התרת נדרים, the Annulment of Vows (page 927), in front of three adult males after Shaḥarit [חיי אדם, קלח: ח]. The formula may be said at any time of the day [שו"ע יו"ד, רלד: נ] and may be said any day prior to Yom Kippur.
9 Some have the custom to immerse in the mikveh. Other customs include fasting and visiting the graves of departed relatives [שו"ע או"ח, תקפא: ב; רמ"א, שם: ד].
10 When Rosh HaShana falls on Thursday and Friday, each household must prepare an Eiruv Tavshilin (page 805); this makes it permissible to prepare food on Friday for the Shabbat meals [שו"ע או"ח, תקכו].
תִּשְׁרֵי
TISHREI
רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה
Rosh HaShana (1st–2nd of Tishrei)
הֲלָכוֹת עֶרֶב רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה
LAWS OF ROSH HASHANA EVE
11 Candle lighting: Two blessings are said: (1) לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב ("to light the festival light") and (2) שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ ("Who has given us life..."). When Rosh HaShana eve falls on Friday night, the conclusion of the first blessing is: לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת וְשֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב ("to light the Shabbat and Festival light") (page 351).
12 Before Ma'ariv, it is customary to recite the piyut אֲחוֹת קְטַנָּה.
13 Ma'ariv: for Shabbat and Yom Tov. Before saying the Amida for Rosh HaShana, תִּקְעוּ בַחֹדֶשׁ שׁוֹפָר (Ps. 81:4–5) is said. After the Amida, the Ark is opened and the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur and congregation say responsively Psalm 24, לְדָוִד מִזְמוֹר, לַיהוָה הָאָרֶץ וּמְלוֹאָהּ. This is followed by Full Kaddish (some say Psalm 24 after the Full Kaddish), Aleinu, and Mourner's Kaddish. It is customary to conclude with the singing of Adon Olam or Yigdal.
14 Changes to the Kaddish: It is customary to replace the phrase לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל ("beyond any") with לְעֵלָּא לְעֵלָּא מִכָּל ("above and beyond any") [משנ"ב, נו: ב] and to change the phrase עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם ("He who makes peace") to עֹשֶׂה הַשָּׁלוֹם ("He who makes the peace") [ערוה"ש או"ח, תקפב: ח]. One who forgets either of these changes is not required to repeat the Kaddish.
15 Special additions to the Amida: On Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, additional phrases are added to the Amida: זָכְרֵנוּ לְחַיִּים is added in the first blessing; מִי כָמוֹךָ in the second; four paragraphs are added to the third, and the ending is changed to הַמֶּלֶךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ; וּכְתֹב is added in the penultimate blessing; and בְּסֵפֶר חַיִּים is added to the final blessing, and the ending is changed to עוֹשֶׂה הַשָּׁלוֹם (some do not change the ending of the blessing). One who forgets to say any of these passages is not required to repeat the Amida with the forgotten additions [שו"ע ורמ"א או"ח, תקפב: ה]. However, one who forgets to change the ending of the third blessing to הַמֶּלֶךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ must repeat the Amida from the beginning, unless one corrects the error תּוֹךְ כְּדֵי דִבּוּר (see source in the Shulḥan Arukh for a discussion of this rule.) [שו"ע או"ח, תקפא: ג].
16 When Rosh HaShana eve falls on Friday night, Ma'ariv is preceded by an abbreviated version of Kabbalat Shabbat: Psalm 29, the first two and last two stanzas of לְכָה דוֹדִי and מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר לְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת, יְהוָה מָלָךְ, גֵּאוּת לָבֵשׁ (page 377). כְּגַוְנָא is omitted. The Amida is said with additions for Shabbat. After the Amida, before saying Psalm 24 the congregation says וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם, and the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur says the abbreviated Repetition of the Amida as is customary on Shabbat eve [שו"ע או"ח, תריט: ג]. This is followed by Full Kaddish, Psalm 23, Half Kaddish and Barekhu.
17 On the eve of Rosh HaShana, it is customary to greet one another with wishes for inscription for a good new year: "לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה תִּכָּתֵב וְתֵחָתֵם" [רמ"א או"ח, תקפב: ט].
18 Upon returning home, one says the Kiddush for Rosh HaShana. When Rosh HaShana eve falls on Friday night, the additions for Shabbat are said (page 931).
19 On the first night of Rosh HaShana, after eating the ḥalla, it is customary to say the blessing on fruit, eat a slice of apple dipped in honey, then say a prayer for a sweet new year [רמ"א או"ח, תקפג: א]. יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא is added to Birkat HaMazon (page 1039).
20 Shaḥarit: Pesukei DeZimra for Shabbat and Yom Tov is said. The Shaliaḥ Tzibbur for Shaḥarit begins from the words הַמֶּלֶךְ הַיּוֹשֵׁב. After Yishtabaḥ, the Ark is opened and the congregation says Psalm 130 responsively.
21 After Barekhu, the congregation says הַמֵּאִיר לָאָרֶץ or, if it is Shabbat, הַכֹּל יוֹדוּךָ. The Amida for Rosh HaShana is said; if also Shabbat, one says the additions for Shabbat. The Shaliaḥ Tzibbur repeats the Amida, adding piyutim before the Kedusha. The congregation says Avinu Malkenu, but not on Shabbat [רמ"א או"ח, תקפד: א]. This is followed by Full Kaddish, the Daily Psalm, Psalm 27, and the Mourner's