Blessings for Rosh Hashanah

Women and girls light holiday candles using an existing flame tonight after dark to usher in the holiday. A "new fruit" should be present on the table when the candles are lit. When reciting the shehecheyanu blessing, the kindler should have in mind the new fruit which will be eaten after kiddush. The same applies when the shehecheyanu is recited during kiddush.

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam asher ki-deshanu be-mitzvo-tav ve-tzvi-vanu le-hadlik ner shel Yom Hazikaron.

Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to light the candle of the Day of Remembrance.

• Say to others present: "Peace be upon you." The appropriate response is aleichem shalom "unto you peace".

Kiddush (wine/grape juice blessing) for Rosh Hashanah:

Take the cup of wine in the right hand and glance at the festival candles. The cup should be held at least three handbreadths (approximately 9 in.) above the table throughout the Kiddush.

{When on Sabbath: The sixth day. And the heavens and the earth and all their hosts were completed. And G‑d finished by the Seventh Day His work which He had done, and He rested on the Seventh Day from all His work which He had done. And G‑d blessed the Seventh Day and made it holy, for on it He rested from all His work which G‑d created to function.}

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Creator of the fruit of the vine. Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has chosen us from among all peoples and sanctified us with God's commandments. And You gave us, Lord our God, in love (this Sabbath day and) this Day of Remembrance. It is (a Day of Remembrance) a day for recalling (with love) the sounding of the Shofar, a sacred convocation, a commemoration of the Exodus from Egypt. For You chose us and sanctified us from among all peoples, and Your word is truth and endures forever. Blessed are You, Ruler over all the earth, who sanctifies (the Sabbath and) Israel and the Day of Remembrance.

When Rosh Hashanah occurs on Saturday night, add the following:

Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who created the lights of fire. [Amen]

Glance at the festival lights, then continue:

Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who makes a distinction between sacred and profane, between light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, between the Seventh Day and the six work days; between the holiness of the Shabbat and the holiness of the Festival You have made a distinction, and have sanctified the Seventh Day above the six work days. You have set apart and made holy Your people Israel with Your holiness. Blessed are You L-rd, who makes a distinction between holy and holy. [Amen]

Pour some wine from the cup to be distributed to those listening, and drink at least 2 ounces of the remaining wine while seated.

Shehecheyanu blessing

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu liz-man ha-zeh

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion [Amen].

Netilat Yadayim Hand washing blessing:

After Kiddush and before the meal, each person in the household should wash hands by filling a cup with water and pouring it over the top and bottom of the right hand and then the left hand. Before wiping the hands dry on a towel, the following blessing should be recited.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, who makes us holy with commandments and has commanded us concerning the washing of hands.

Ha-Motzi Challah blessing:

Immediately after washing hands and before eating, the head of the household removes the cover from the two challah loaves, lifting them while reciting the following blessing. The challah is then ripped into pieces or sliced and passed around the table, so that each person may have a piece. The family meal may then begin.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.