There are a number of different greetings that Jews exchange at Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Here is a selection of greetings for you to use and recognise. You only need to use one of them.
Even if you have no idea what the person talking to you has said, you are unlikely to go wrong with any of these. Keep smiling too!:
- Shana Tova (u'mtuka) = a good (and sweet) new year
- Ketiva Vechatima Tova = a good writing and sealing (in the Book of Life)
- Gemar Chatima Tova = a good end and sealing (in the Book of Like). This one is used after Rosh Hashana and until Yom Kippur
- Leshana Tova tikateiv veteichateim (masc.) / tickateivi vetaychateimi (fem.) = be inscribed and sealed for a good year. This may be the favourite of Hebrew grammarians!
- Chag Samei'ach = Good Yom Tov. This is the least specific but works for Rosh Hashana although not for Yom Kippur as Yom Kippur is definately not a 'Chag' (festival). This greeting is best used for the three Chagim (festivals/Yamim Tovim= plural of Yom Tov) of Pesach, Shavuot and Succot (including Shemini Atzeret).
- A Gut, gebensht'd a yor = a good and blessed year. This is Yiddish. I know only a little more Yiddish than Mandarin. Yiddish speakers are requested to tell me if this is spelt rong, er, wrong.
- The easiest response to any of these is the Aramaic phrase, 'Vechain le-mar' = and to you too!
Anyway, have a good one! May you and your families be blessed with all of these blessings listed above and all good things.
The South Hampstead Shul team
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