I am studying Jewish holy days and became interested in Rosh Hashana. Can you please give me the Biblical reference to the celebration of this New Year? I would also be interested in viewing a Jewish religious and civil calendar to note the differences between the Jewish New Year and the New Years everyone else celebrates. One website I found, stated there are actually two Jewish New Years? Please explain.

Thank you very much for your question. The Biblical reference to Rosh HaShana is in Leviticus 23:23-25.

The Mishna in Tractate Rosh HaShana (1:1) actually teaches us that there are four Jewish New Years!! This is because the concept of a yearly cycle is relevant to various Jewish laws, and various laws start their new cycle on four different dates throughout the year. However, the two “primary” New Years are the first of Tishrei, as this is the day that G-d created the world and judges humanity, and the first of Nissan, the month of our redemption from Egypt, which G-d has commanded us (Exodus 12:2) to count as the first month of the year.

There is a fascinating book called The Book of Our Heritage by Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov that discusses the various holidays and goes through all of the months of the year. If you could get a copy of it, I think that you would find it most helpful and interesting. The very first chapter discusses the month of Tishrei and Rosh HaShana.

Take care,
Rabbi Aaron Tendler