Our tradition teaches that this day marks the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, the “parents” of every person – including you and me! It’s the day when, every year, God "takes stock" of Creation and judges our actions. Is each one of us living up to our own individual potentials? We call this holiday Rosh Hashana, which literally means the "Head" of the Year, since just as the head directs the body, so too God's judgment on Rosh Hashana directs the events of the coming year.
We light holiday candles and recite kiddush over wine or grape juice. We eat sweet apples dipped in honey, in prayer that we merit a good, sweet year. The highlight of the daily prayer service is the sounding of the shofar, the ram's horn. (See http://www.asktherabbi.org/DisplayQuestion.asp?ID=2583 for the reasons why the shofar is so important and appropriate to this day.)
The staff of Gateways and the asktherabbi.org team wish you all a “good and sweet year” — that you should enjoy much happiness and success in all facets of life.
