High Holy Days Greetings
More information about the High Holy Days will be posted here shortly. In the meantime, here is a quick guide to greetings during this period!
It is customary, after the month of Elul has begun, to use special greetings in the lead up to Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). Here is a brief list of what gets used and when:
From 1st Elul - three variations:
- Shanah Tovah (A good year)
- Leshanah tovah tikateyvu (May you be inscribed for a good year)
- Leshanah Tovah u-Metukah tikateyvu (May you be inscribed for a good and sweet year)
- Ketivah Tovah (A good inscription)
The reply commonly used is 'Gemar Lecha' (for a man) or 'Gemar Lach' (for a woman), which means 'The same to you'.
From Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur some say:
- Leshanah tovah tikateyvu veteychateymu (May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year)
On Yom Kippur and until the seventh day of Sukkot some say:
- Gemar chatimah tovah (A good final seal)
- Chatimah Tovah (A good seal)
Of course, no-one will be offended with a simple 'Shanah Tovah' at any time during this period!
