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Quizzes > Society & Culture > Religion & Mythology

Rosh Hashanah Trivia Quiz - Think You Can Ace It?

Ready for Rosh Hashanah trivia? Challenge yourself now - and don't miss our hanukkah trivia questions!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for High Holidays quiz featuring apples honey shofar flowers on coral background

This Rosh Hashanah quiz helps you see how much you know about shofar blasts, apples and honey, tashlich, and more High Holiday traditions. Play to have fun and learn a fact or two while you practice for the New Year.

On which Hebrew month do the holidays of Rosh Hashanah occur?
Kislev
Shevat
Tishrei
Tevet
Rosh Hashanah falls on the first and second days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. It marks the beginning of the civil year even as it falls amid the High Holiday season. Tishrei is also the month of Sukkot and Yom Kippur. .
Which rams horn instrument is traditionally blown during Rosh Hashanah services?
Drum
Shofar
Flute
Trumpet
The shofar is a hollowed rams horn blown in specific patterns during Rosh Hashanah prayers. It serves as a call to repentance and spiritual awakening. The shofar is mentioned in the Torah and Jewish law as a central holiday symbol. .
What fruit is commonly dipped in honey to symbolize a sweet new year on Rosh Hashanah?
Pear
Grapefruit
Banana
Apple
Dipping apple slices in honey is a popular custom meant to evoke sweetness for the year ahead. The apples crispness and the honeys sweetness combine to form an evocative ritual. This practice appears in medieval Jewish sources. .
What is the Hebrew term for the Days of Awe that begin with Rosh Hashanah?
Pesach
Yamim Noraim
Chanukah
Shavuot
Yamim Noraim literally means Days of Awe and refers to the ten-day period from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur. These days emphasize repentance, introspection, and seeking forgiveness. The liturgy and customs reflect this solemn, reflective tone. .
Which symbolic fruit with many seeds is eaten on Rosh Hashanah to represent abundance?
Strawberry
Pomegranate
Blueberry
Orange
Pomegranates are eaten because their many seeds symbolize a year filled with good deeds, mitzvot, and blessings. Jewish folklore even counts 613 seeds to match the commandments, although actual counts vary. The pomegranate appears frequently in Jewish art and ritual. .
What round loaf is commonly served on Rosh Hashanah to symbolize the cycle of the year?
Bagel
Matzah
Challah
Focaccia
On Rosh Hashanah, challah is often braided into a circular shape to signify the cyclical nature of the year and continuity. This differs from the usual oval braid served the rest of the year. The special round challah can be found in many Jewish communities worldwide. .
What greeting do Jews commonly exchange on Rosh Hashanah?
Gut Yontif
Chag Sameach
Mazel Tov
Shana Tova
Shana Tova literally means Good Year in Hebrew and is the most common Rosh Hashanah greeting. Some extend it to Shana Tova UMetukah, meaning A good and sweet year. Other greetings apply to different Jewish holidays. .
Rosh Hashanah commemorates which major Biblical event?
The fall of Jericho
Receiving the Torah at Sinai
The Exodus from Egypt
The creation of the world
Rosh Hashanah is traditionally observed as the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve and thus the world. Jewish liturgy references Gods throne and creation themes. While the Torah rarely uses the term 'Rosh Hashanah,' rabbinic literature links the day to creation. .
Which month directly precedes Rosh Hashanah in the Jewish calendar?
Elul
Adar
Cheshvan
Tammuz
The month of Elul, immediately before Tishrei, is a time of preparation and reflection ahead of Rosh Hashanah. Many communities recite Selichot and sound the shofar daily during Elul. Eluls self-examination practices lead into the High Holiday season. .
What is the name of the extra prayer service unique to the High Holidays and including the shofar blasts?
Maariv
Mincha
Shacharit
Musaf
Musaf is the additional service recited on Shabbat, festivals, and Rosh Hashanah. On Rosh Hashanah, the Musaf Amidah includes multiple references to the shofar blasts. This service highlights the holidays distinct offerings. .
During the Tashlich ceremony, participants throw breadcrumbs into water to symbolize what?
Commemorate creation
Feed the fish
Offer tithes
Cast away their sins
Tashlich, meaning 'casting off,' is a symbolic ritual where Jews symbolically dispose of sins by tossing bread into moving water. It hearkens to Micah 7:19, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Tashlich underscores repentance and renewal. .
Which greeting means 'May you be inscribed for a good year' and is used around Rosh Hashanah?
Chag Sameach
Gut Yontif
Mazel Tov
LShanah Tovah Tikateivu
LShanah Tovah Tikateivu literally means 'May you be inscribed for a good year,' referencing the Book of Life. Its a more formal greeting than simply 'Shana Tova.' This phrase appears in liturgical poems and cards. .
Which horn is used to make a kosher shofar for Rosh Hashanah?
Deer
Goat
Cow
Ram
A rams horn is the most common and preferred material for a kosher shofar, in remembrance of the ram offered instead of Isaac. Other horns like goat or antelope arent accepted in many traditions. Jewish law specifies horns, not synthetic materials. .
How many days long is the observance of Rosh Hashanah in most Jewish communities?
Eight days
Seven days
One day
Two days
Outside Israel, Rosh Hashanah is observed for two days (12 Tishrei) due to ancient calendrical uncertainty. In Israel, its typically one day. The second day is called 'Rosh Hashanah Sheni.' Many diaspora communities maintain two days by custom. .
What is the term for the ten-day period from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur focused on repentance?
Purim
Sukkot
Shavuot
Aseret Yemei Teshuvah
Aseret Yemei Teshuvah, literally 'Ten Days of Repentance,' denotes the days from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur. Its a time for personal reflection, prayer, and seeking forgiveness. Many add special prayers and charity in this period. .
How many times is the sequence Tekiah-Shevarim-Teruah-Tekiah repeated in the Musaf shofar service?
Three
Two
One
Five
In the Musaf service for Rosh Hashanah, the four-note sequence Tekiah-Shevarim-Teruah-Tekiah is recited three times, once for each of the three additional offerings described in the Torah. The repetition signifies completeness and mirrors the threefold structure in Musaf. .
Which liturgical poem recited on Rosh Hashanah contains the phrase Who shall live and who shall die?
Adon Olam
Aleinu
Unetaneh Tokef
Kol Nidre
Unetaneh Tokef is a central piyyut of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, vividly depicting divine judgment with the words Who shall live and who shall die. Its recited during the Musaf Amidah. The poem dates back to early medieval Ashkenaz. .
According to Ashkenazi custom, how many individual staccato notes comprise a single Teruah blast?
Three
Six
Nine
Twelve
Ashkenazi tradition defines the Teruah as nine rapid, staccato blasts, reflecting a sobbing or trembling sound. Sephardic practice may vary. The Mishnah classifies this under Shevarim-Teruah or pure Teruah. .
The custom of eating leek on Rosh Hashanah arises from a Hebrew pun implying what?
Prosperity
Health
Being cut off from evil
Fruitfulness
In some Sephardic and Iraqi communities, eating leek (karti) is linked to the Hebrew pun on 'karat' meaning 'to cut off,' expressing a wish to be cut off from enemies and evil decrees. Such simanim (symbolic foods) use wordplay to invoke blessings. .
According to Kabbalistic teachings, how many heavenly gates are opened on Rosh Hashanah?
Five
Thirteen
Seven
Ten
Kabbalistic tradition teaches that thirteen gates of mercy are opened on Rosh Hashanah, reflecting the thirteen attributes of divine compassion. Mystical texts describe special prayers to access these gates. The numbers significance appears in the Zohar and Lurianic Kabbalah. .
What is the symbolic significance of the sound Shevarim in the shofar blasts?
A broken heart crying out
Announcing royalty
Harvest signal
A call to celebrate
Shevarim, three medium-length blasts, mimic the sound of broken sobbing, symbolizing brokenness of heart and repentance. Its one of the core three shofar sounds along with Tekiah and Teruah. The Mishnah categorizes it as part of the mitzvah of shofar blowing. .
According to the Mishna in Rosh Hashanah 33a, what is the ideal total number of shofar blasts to be sounded?
90
70
100
50
The Mishna (Rosh Hashanah 33a) prescribes an ideal total of 100 shofar blasts30 tekiah, 30 shevarim, and 40 teruahbased on scriptural verses numerically interpreted. Although communities may vary, 100 is the classical ideal. This standard is discussed in halachic works. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Rosh Hashanah Symbols -

    Describe the key symbols like the shofar, apples, and honey, and explain their significance in Rosh Hashanah trivia and tradition.

  2. Identify High Holidays Rituals -

    Recognize and explain major rituals from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, including prayer services and the importance of tashlich in the High Holidays trivia context.

  3. Recall Traditional Foods and Meanings -

    List customary holiday foods and connect each item to its symbolic meaning, improving your rosh hashanah trivia answers accuracy.

  4. Differentiate Holiday Observances -

    Compare and contrast Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur observances to deepen your understanding of the distinct customs and their roles in the High Holidays trivia.

  5. Apply Trivia Knowledge -

    Use the quiz format to test and reinforce what you've learned about Rosh Hashanah, and gauge your performance against fellow enthusiasts.

  6. Expand to Hanukkah Trivia -

    Extend your holiday knowledge by linking Rosh Hashanah lessons to hanukkah trivia questions, preparing you for broader High Holidays trivia challenges.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Origins and Biblical Roots -

    Rosh Hashanah, literally "Head of the Year," is mentioned in Leviticus 23:24 as a "day of sounding the horn" (shofar) to mark the new month. Remembering this helps in rosh hashanah trivia and anchors the holiday's dual themes of judgment and hope. According to the Jewish Virtual Library, the festival evolved from biblical new-year celebrations into today's solemn observance.

  2. Shofar Blast Sequence -

    The classic service includes three sets of shofar sounds - Tekiah (one long blast), Shevarim (three medium blasts), and Teruah (nine short blasts) - repeated three times for a total of 30 blasts per service. A handy mnemonic is "1-2-3 once, 1-2-3 twice, 1-2-3 thrice" to recall the pattern for High Holidays trivia. This structure underscores themes of repentance and renewal (source: Chabad.org).

  3. Symbolic Foods and Blessings -

    Eating apples dipped in honey symbolizes a sweet new year, while pomegranate seeds - traditionally said to number 613 - represent the 613 mitzvot (commandments). Remember this fact for rosh hashanah trivia as a tasty mnemonic: "APples and POMs" for Apples & Pomegranates. These customs are detailed by My Jewish Learning and reinforce the holiday's themes of hope and abundance.

  4. Hebrew Calendar Calculations -

    Rosh Hashanah falls on the first two days of Tishrei, determined by the lunar cycle's "molad" (new moon) calculation plus four postponement rules to avoid inconvenient weekdays. This makes the exact date vary each year between September and October, a key point for both rosh hashanah trivia and general High Holidays trivia. Scholars from the Jewish Virtual Library note these rules ensure Yom Kippur never falls adjacent to the Sabbath.

  5. Ten Days of Repentance Practices -

    Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Ten Days of Repentance feature Selichot prayers by daybreak and the custom of Hatarat Nedarim (annulling vows). While hanukkah trivia questions and answers often highlight the miracle of the oil, High Holidays trivia calls for remembering these solemn rituals. As noted by the Jewish Theological Seminary, this period underscores introspection, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal.

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