The month of October 2025 in the Gregorian calendar corresponds to the Hebrew month of Marcheshvan, which typically falls between late October and late November. During this time, Jews around the world observe several significant holidays and commemorations. One of the most important is the Jewish New Year, known as Rosh Hashanah, which marks the beginning of the High Holy Days.
Rosh Hashanah is celebrated on the first and second days of Marcheshvan. It is a time for reflection, repentance, and renewal. Jews attend synagogue services, where they hear the blowing of the shofar, a ram’s horn, which symbolizes a call to wake up and repent. They also engage in introspection, asking forgiveness for their sins and making resolutions for the coming year. The traditional foods eaten on Rosh Hashanah include apples dipped in honey, which represent a wish for a sweet new year.
Following Rosh Hashanah, the High Holy Days continue with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year and is observed with a 25-hour fast. Jews spend the day in prayer and repentance, seeking forgiveness for their sins and reconciliation with God. They also attend synagogue services, where they hear readings from the Torah and engage in communal prayers. Yom Kippur is a time for intense spiritual reflection and growth, as Jews strive to cleanse their souls and start the new year with a clean slate.
Shemini Atzeret
Shemini Atzeret, also known as the “Eighth Day of Assembly,” is a joyous holiday that immediately follows Sukkot. It is celebrated on the 22nd of Tishrei, which will fall on October 8, 2025.
Observances
Shemini Atzeret is observed with special prayers, Torah readings, and festive meals. It is customary to eat a meal with bread and water, symbolizing the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the rainy season.
Simchat Torah
The second day of Shemini Atzeret, known as Simchat Torah, is a celebration of the completion of the annual cycle of Torah readings. It is marked by spirited dancing and singing, as the Torah scrolls are carried around the synagogue.
| Date in 2025 | Holiday Name |
|---|---|
| October 8 | Shemini Atzeret |
| October 9 | Simchat Torah |
Significance
Shemini Atzeret is a time for reflection and gratitude. It concludes the autumn holiday season, which commemorates the Exodus from Egypt and the harvest. The holiday reminds us of the importance of following God’s commandments and of the blessings that come from observing them.
The High Holidays
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a two-day holiday that begins on the evening of **September 28, 2025**. It marks the beginning of the ten-day period known as the High Holidays, which culminates in Yom Kippur.
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It is a day of fasting, prayer, and repentance that begins on the evening of **October 7, 2025**.
Sukkot
Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, is an eight-day holiday that begins on the evening of **October 12, 2025**. It commemorates the Israelites’ wandering in the desert after their exodus from Egypt.
Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah, the Rejoicing of the Torah, is a one-day holiday that marks the completion of the annual cycle of Torah readings. It begins on the evening of **October 19, 2025**.
Shemini Atzeret
Shemini Atzeret, the Eighth Day of Assembly, is a one-day holiday that follows Sukkot. It begins on the evening of **October 26, 2025**.
Yizkor
Yizkor, the Day of Remembrance, is a memorial service that is held on the last day of each of the three major Jewish festivals: Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. It is a time to remember and honor deceased loved ones.
| Holiday | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Rosh Hashanah | September 28, 2025 | September 30, 2025 |
| Yom Kippur | October 7, 2025 | October 8, 2025 |
| Sukkot | October 12, 2025 | October 19, 2025 |
| Simchat Torah | October 19, 2025 | October 19, 2025 |
| Shemini Atzeret | October 26, 2025 | October 26, 2025 |
The Ten Days of Repentance
The Jewish High Holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, are preceded by a ten-day period known as the Ten Days of Repentance. This period begins on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei and ends on Yom Kippur. It is a time for introspection, reflection, and repentance.
Following is the number 7 in the Ten Days of Repentance tradition:
The number 7 plays a significant role in the Ten Days of Repentance. There are seven themes that are associated with the period:
- Awareness: Becoming aware of our actions and their consequences.
- Regret: Feeling remorse for our wrongdoings.
- Confession: Admitting our sins to God and to ourselves.
- Forsaking: Turning away from our old ways and committing to change.
- Restitution: Making amends for wrongs we have done to others.
- Prayer: Asking God for forgiveness and guidance.
- Teshuvah: The complete process of repentance, including all of the above steps.
| Day | Hebrew Name | English Name |
|—|—|—|
| 1 | Rosh Hashanah | Head of the Year |
| 2 | | Second Day of Rosh Hashanah |
| 3 | | Fast of Gedaliah |
| 4 – 9 | | Intermediate Days of Awe|
| 10 | Yom Kippur | Day of Atonement |
The Lulav and Etrog
The Lulav is a palm branch that is bound together with three myrtle branches and two willow branches. It is used on the festival of Sukkot, which commemorates the Israelites’ wandering in the wilderness after they left Egypt. The Etrog is a citron that is used on Sukkot together with the Lulav. It is a symbol of the bounty of the land of Israel.
The Four Species
The Lulav and Etrog are two of the four species that are used on Sukkot. The other two species are the myrtle and the willow. These four species are bound together to form a bouquet that is used to wave during the festival.
Details about the Number 9
There are many instances of the number 9 in the Torah and Jewish tradition. Some examples include:
| Number 9 | Significance |
|---|---|
| 9 months | Gestation period |
| 9 days | Period of mourning |
| 9 gates | Of Jerusalem |
The Psalms of Rosh Hashanah
The Psalms of Rosh Hashanah are a collection of psalms that are traditionally recited during the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These psalms are intended to inspire feelings of awe, gratitude, and repentance, and to help worshipers prepare for the coming year.
The Ten Psalms of Rosh Hashanah
The Ten Psalms of Rosh Hashanah are:
| Psalm | First Line |
|---|---|
| Psalm 27 | “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” |
| Psalm 40 | “I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” |
| Psalm 90 | “Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.” |
| Psalm 91 | “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” |
| Psalm 100 | “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.” |
| Psalm 103 | “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” |
| Psalm 104 | “Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty.” |
| Psalm 115 | “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.” |
| Psalm 118 | “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.” |
| Psalm 130 | “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.” |
These psalms are typically recited during the morning service on Rosh Hashanah, and they are often accompanied by special musical arrangements. The Ten Psalms of Rosh Hashanah are a powerful way to mark the beginning of the new year and to reflect on the year that has passed.
Jewish Holidays in October 2025
October 2025 will see the observance of two significant Jewish holidays: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins on the evening of September 28th and ends on the evening of September 30th. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins on the evening of October 4th and ends on the evening of October 5th.
Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the High Holidays, a period of introspection and repentance. The holiday is celebrated with special prayers, meals, and the sounding of the shofar, a ram’s horn. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year and is a day of fasting, prayer, and atonement. Jews observe Yom Kippur by abstaining from food and drink, attending synagogue services, and reciting prayers of repentance.
