Rosh Hashanah Checklist

Copyright A project of Shulchanaruchharav.com Page 1

Elul Checklist
Hold a Farbrengen [Chassidic gathering] on both nights of Rosh Chodesh
Blow the Shofar on the first day of Rosh Chodesh for practice. Every day thereafter blow
Tashrat-Tashat-Tarat after Shacharis.
Recite the three extra Kapitlach of Tehillim per day, after Davening.
Recite Ledavid Hashem Ori in Shacharis, after Shir Shel Yom, and in Mincha, before
Aleinu, starting from the 1
st
day of Rosh Chodesh until Hoshanah Raba.
Begin to bless other Jews with a Kesiva Vachasima Tova both orally and in letters.
Perform a Cheshbon Nefesh
Check Mezuzos and Tefillin
On the 14
th
of Elul begin reviewing the laws of Sukkos
Recite Selichos in the morning at the allotted amount of days prior to Rosh Hashanah.

Selichos Checklist
The first night of Selichos is Motzei Shabbos. The custom is to begin Selichos
immediately after midnight.
On Motzei Shabbos, Selichos is said while still wearing ones Shabbos clothing.
It is customary to hold a Chassidic gathering on Motzei Shabbos in the hours prior to
Selichos.
One is to learn Torah prior to saying Selichos. The content to be learned is matters which
pertain to practical Halacha. Likewise one is to study the Mamar of Lecha Havayah
Hatzedaka [printed in the beginning of the Selichos] or at the very least its beginning
and end. On the first night of Selichos this to be learned prior to midnight.
One is to give charity prior to Selichos. On the 1
st
night of Selichos this is to be done only
after midnight.
The custom is to stand while reciting Selichos.
The Chazan is to recite Selichos with a Tallis. If it is still before the allowable time to say
a blessing over a Tallis the Chazan should borrow a Tallis from another person and wear
it without a blessing.
Selichos must be recited slowly and with concentration. It is better to recite a lesser
amount of supplications, but with proper concentration, then a larger amount without
concentration.
It is forbidden to recite the thirteen attributes without proper concentration.
One is to recite the 13 attributes with his back slightly arched forward.

Rosh Hashanah Checklist

Copyright A project of Shulchanaruchharav.com Page 2

Checklist for Erev Rosh Hashanah

Some fast until Chatzos.
Tachanun is not recited in Davening but it is said in Selichos.
Perform Hataras Nedarim after Davening
Perform a Peruzbal in the relevant years
Do not blow Shofar today
Visit gravesites
Recite Tehillim
Review the Machzor and Piyutim
Bake round Challahs for Yom Tov
Dont cook sour foods. Dont add vinegar to fish etc.
The Simanim: Karti [Leek]; Silka/Tradin [Beets]; Tamri [Dates]; Kara [Squash]; Carrots-
Tzimis; Fish; Pomegranate;

Head of a ram or fish.
Eiruv Tavshilin if applicable
Call relatives such as parents and grandparents
Spend time with wife
The Mitzvah of Simcha does not apply on Rosh Hashanah.
Haircut
Cut the nails
Bathe in hot water
Immerse in a Mikveh
Write a Pan
Do not begin a meal past the 10
th
hour
Give Tzedakah for both days of Rosh Hashanah
Candle lighting is done with the blessings of Yom Hazikaron and Shehechiyanu
Prepare a 24 hours candle and Yartzite candle if applicable
Recite Tehillim before Mincha
Have extra Kavana in the Mincha prayer.


Rosh Hashanah Checklist

Copyright A project of Shulchanaruchharav.com Page 3

Checklist for Rosh Hashanah
1. Maariv:
Recite Tehillim between Mincha and Maariv.
Have extra Kavana in Maariv prayer of first night.
Recite in Shemoneh Esrei: Hamelech Hakadosh; Zachreinu; Mi Chamocha; Ukesov;
Ubisefer; Oseh Hashalom.
Recite Ledavid Mizmor after Shemoneh Esrei and intend on Parnasa.
Wish each other Kesiva Vechasima Tova after Davening.

2. The Rosh Hashanah night meal:
Set up the table before Yom Tov. On the second night set up the table after nightfall.
It is a Mitzvah to eat, drink and rejoice on Rosh Hashanah. Be joyful as a good omen!
One is to eat rich meat and drink sweet beverages.
One is not to fully satiate oneself.
One is to establish his meal on wine.
One is to invite the needy to ones meal.
One is to use round Challahs.
One recites Kiddush with Shehechiyanu
Second night-On the second night place a new fruit on the t9able before Kiddush
First night Shabbos-When [the first night of] Rosh Hashanah falls on Friday evening,
read the following in an undertone: shalom aleichim, eishes chayil, mizmor ledavid
Hashem ro'i, da hi se'udasa.
Second night Motzei Shabbos-When the second day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Motzei
Shabbos one says Yaknaha"z in the order of Kiddush of the second night.
Second night-On the second night also the people who listened to the Kiddush eat the
new fruit, saying a blessing of Haeitz and Shehechiyanu over it.
After saying the blessing of Hamotzi, one dips the Challah in the honey [three times].
First night-On the first night, after eating the Challah after Hamotzi, one is to eat a sweet
apple dipped in honey saying first the blessing on the apple and immediately afterwards
the "Yehi Ratzon" printed in the Machzor. At the time of the blessing one should have in
mind all the fruits to be eaten during the meal.
The Simanim: Karti [Leek]; Silka/Tradin [Beets]; Tamri [Dates]; Kara [Squash]; Carrots-
Tzimis; Fish; Pomegranate;

Head of a ram or fish.
Yehi Ratzon is only recited upon eating the apple.
Simanim are not customarily eaten by the second night meal.
Dont eat: Nuts; Sour foods.
Avoid smoking
Birchas Hamazon: Yaleh Veyavo; Harachaman for Yom Tov; Harachaman for Rosh
Hashanah; On Shabbos Rosh Hashanah one recites first Harachaman for Shabbos.
Study Miseches Rosh Hashanah after each meal.
Diminish in sleep as much as possible during both nights of Rosh Hashanah in order to
use the time for recital of Tehillim.
Avoid cohabitation on both nights.



Rosh Hashanah Checklist

Copyright A project of Shulchanaruchharav.com Page 4

3. Shacharis
Awaken prior to Alos and do not return to sleep on Rosh Hashanah day.
Dont eat before Davening. Some fast until after Shofar.
Have extra Kavana in Adon Olam

4. Shofar:
Spiritually prepare before the blowing in any method that arouses you.
Have in mind to be Yotzei the Biblical Mitzvah
Do not say Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo by Hashems name in the blessing.
Dont think of other matters during the blowing.
Dont talk until after Musaf
Look at the face of the Baal Tokeia after the blowing.

5. Musaf
Bend slightly upon saying Aleinu in the silent prayer.
Prepare a cloth for the bowing by Aleinu.
Leave Shul in happy spirits.

6. The day meal:
It is a Mitzvah to eat, drink and rejoice on Rosh Hashanah.
Eat rich meat and sweet beverages.
One is not to fully satiate oneself.
One is to establish his meal on wine.
One is to invite the needy to ones meal.
On the 1
st
day begin the meal prior to the 10
th
hour of the day. When the 2
nd
day of Rosh
Hashanah falls on Erev Shabbos begin also the 2
nd
day meal before the 10
th
hour.
The day Kiddush: One says the verse Tiku and Ki Chok etc. One does not say Aleh
Moadeiy or Askinu. When Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbos, the following passages are
said prior to the verse of Tiku. They are to be said in an undertone: Mizmor Ledavid;
Askinu; Veshamru; Im Tashiv; Da Hi; Zechor; Al Kein.
After saying the blessing of Hamotzi, one dips the Challah in the honey [three times].
The Simanim: Not customarily eaten by day meal.
Dont eat: Nuts; Sour foods.
Avoid smoking
Birchas Hamazon: Yaleh Veyavo; Harachaman for Yom Tov; Harachaman for Rosh
Hashanah; On Shabbos Rosh Hashanah one recites first Harachaman for Shabbos.
Study Miseches Rosh Hashanah.
After eating the day meal one should return to Shul and say Tehillim.
One is to learn all of ones set Shiurim. [Seemingly one is to study his chapter of Tehillim
with Rashi as is to be done on every Rosh Chodesh]
Avoid sleeping on Rosh Hashanah day [even after midday], although some have the
custom to sleep after midday.

Rosh Hashanah Checklist

Copyright A project of Shulchanaruchharav.com Page 5

7. Mincha
Mincha is recited prior to Tashlich.
It is forbidden to prepare anything on the 1
st
day of Yom Tov on behalf of the 2
nd
day
until nightfall. Even in a scenario that Shabbos falls after the 2
nd
day of Rosh Hashanah, it
is forbidden to prepare on the 1
st
day of Yom Tov for Shabbos even when Eiruv Tavshilin
has been done.

8. Tashlich:
Recite after Mincha, prior to sunset, on the first day of Rosh Hashanah.
Recite near a river, well, or spring that contains live fish.
At the conclusion of Tashlich one shakes the ends of his Tallis Katan.

9. The Second day of Rosh Hashanah
Candles are lit after nightfall.
Wear new garment or prepare new fruit for Shehechiyanu

10. Second day of RH that falls on Motzei Shabbos:
Say Bein Kodesh Lekodesh before Melacha or candle lighting.
Say Vetodieinu in Shemoneh Esrei
Say order of Yaknahaz in Kiddush.
Meoreiy Haeish is said over the Yom Tov candles that were lit. We simply look at the
candles after the blessing.

11. Motzei RH:
One is to learn Chassidus towards the end of Rosh Hashanah.
Shemoneh Esrei: In Shemoneh Esrei one must remember to add the following statements:
Zachreinu; Mi Kamocha; Hamelech Hakadosh; Hamelech Hamishpat; Ukesov; Ubesefer,
Oseh Hashalom.
Veata Chonantanu: On Motzei Rosh Hashanah one needs to recite Havdala [Ata
Chonantanu] in the blessing of Chonen Hadaas, just like on Motzei Shabbos.
Havdala on Motzei Yom Tov: We do not say a blessing over Besamim or Haeish.

12. Conclusion of Rosh Hashanah that falls on Friday/Erev Shabbos:
On Erev Shabbos one is to read Shnayim Mikra after midday before Shabbos.
One must prepare the food before Shabbos with enough time for the food to be hot and
cooked before Shabbos.
One lights candles for Shabbos from a pre-existing flame at the usual time of candle
lighting.
Hodu is not said before Mincha although Patach Eliyahu is recited as usual before
Mincha.
Avinu Malkeinu is omitted by Mincha.
The evening service begins with instead of .
In Lecha Dodi the normal dialect of Berina is recited.