Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a time filled with fun traditions and celebrations. Many of these traditions include riddles and puzzles that encourage learning and reflection. Here are 81 riddles about Rosh Hashanah to test your knowledge and get you thinking.
Rosh Hashanah Riddles
Q: Why was the shofar sad on Rosh Hashanah?
A: It didn’t have anyone to trumpet.
Q: What did the rabbi say when he saw a bee on Rosh Hashanah?
A: Have a sweet new year!
Q: Why do we eat apples and honey on Rosh Hashanah?
A: For a sweet new year!
Q: What did the pomegranate say to the honey on Rosh Hashanah?
A: See you next year!
Q: Why do people avoid nuts on Rosh Hashanah?
A: Because we don’t want to be nutty in the new year!
Q: Why did the challah feel lonely on Rosh Hashanah?
A: It didn’t have anyone to “challah” back!
Q: Why was the rabbi nervous about leading services on Rosh Hashanah?
A: He was worried he would “shofarget” the prayers!
Q: How did the pomegranate feel on Rosh Hashanah?
A: Seedy!
Q: What do you call a sleepy rabbi on Rosh Hashanah?
A: A nap-py new year!
Q: What do you get when you cross a Rosh Hashanah dinner with an art class?
A: An apples and chall-art party!
Q: What did one challah say to the other on Rosh Hashanah?
A: Let’s “challah” together in the new year!
Q: Why couldn’t anybody hear the shofar on Rosh Hashanah?
A: It was on “shofar-mute”!
Q: How did the pomegranate feel about Rosh Hashanah?
A: It was feeling positively “jewel-ish”!
Q: Why did the rabbi keep looking at his watch on Rosh Hashanah?
A: He was waiting for the challah (calling) of the new year!
Q: Why do Jewish people play the shofar on Rosh Hashanah?
A: To ring in the new year!
Q: What do you get if you cross Rosh Hashanah with a detective story?
A: A real “mashugana” mystery!
Q: Why was the challah sad on the first day of Rosh Hashanah?
A: It felt all “alone-ah” without the second challah!
Q: How did the cantor feel about leading Rosh Hashanah services?
A: He was ready to “raise the roof!”
Q: What do you get if you cross a Rosh Hashanah dinner with an iPhone?
A: An apples and “challat” party!
Q: Why does a shofar have lots of dents?
A: Because it’s been “rammed” so many times!
Q: What’s a rabbi’s favorite part of the Rosh Hashanah service?
A: When everyone sings “shana tova umetukah!”
Q: Why was the challah embarrassed on Rosh Hashanah?
A: It was a little “crumb-y”!
Q: Why did the shofar need to rest its voice before Rosh Hashanah?
A: It was worried it would get “ram”-pires!
Q: Why was the honey nervous to meet the apples on Rosh Hashanah?
A: It felt a little sticky!
Q: What’s a rabbi’s favorite iPhone app for Rosh Hashanah?
A: iShofar!
Food and Cooking Riddles
Q: Why couldn’t the brisket fit into the oven on Rosh Hashanah?
A: It was too “rosh”!
Q: What key ingredient was missing from the tzimmes on Rosh Hashanah?
A: Carrots and honey for a sweet new year!
Q: Why was the challah daydreaming about the honey cake on Rosh Hashanah?
A: It had a sweet “challah-tooth”!
Q: Why did the apples turn red on Rosh Hashanah?
A: They were embarrassed to be on the honey cake!
Q: What did the brisket say to the matzo ball soup on Rosh Hashanah?
A: Let’s “meat” again next year!
Q: Why was the honey nervous to meet the challah on Rosh Hashanah?
A: It felt awkward since they had never “met” before!
Q: What did the apples say to each other before the Rosh Hashanah seder?
A: Let’s stick together!
Q: Why was the gefilte fish sad on Rosh Hashanah?
A: It didn’t have any “carp-pool” to the dinner!
Q: Why did the brisket arrive late to the Rosh Hashanah dinner?
A: It was stuck in “jew”-ish traffic!
Q: What do you call an apple that doesn’t want to be eaten on Rosh Hashanah?
A: A “fraidy-cat”!
Q: Why was the honey nervous at the Rosh Hashanah dinner?
A: It felt out of place without tea and challah!
Q: What do you call apples that stick together on Rosh Hashanah?
A: Best “buddies”!
Q: Why couldn’t the brisket fit into the pan on Rosh Hashanah?
A: It was too “rosh”!
Q: Why did the challah arrive late for the Rosh Hashanah dinner?
A: It was stuck in a “traffic jam”!
Q: What did the apple say to the honey on Rosh Hashanah?
A: What a sweet combination!
Q: Why was the matzo ball soup sad on Rosh Hashanah?
A: It felt “chicken soup” for the Jewish soul.
Q: What did the honey say to the apples on Rosh Hashanah?
A: Y’all ready for this?
Customs and Rituals Riddles
Q: Why do we throw bread crumbs into water on Rosh Hashanah?
A: To cast away our sins!
Q: When does a bee’s honey taste the sweetest according to tradition?
A: Right after hearing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah!
Q: Why do people avoid sleeping on Rosh Hashanah?
A: To avoid sleeping through the new year!
Q: Why do people avoid nuts on Rosh Hashanah?
A: To avoid going nutty in the new year!
Q: What’s the best thing to eat to hear the shofar better?
A: Anything sweet for a sweeter new year!
Q: Why do people exchange Shana Tova greetings?
A: To wish each other a good year!
Q: Why do people wear fancy clothes on Rosh Hashanah?
A: To ring in the new year in style!
Q: Why do we celebrate Rosh Hashanah for two days?
A: Yom Tov is always two days outside of Israel!
Q: What do we eat apples and honey?
A: For hopes of a sweet new year!
Q: Why do we avoid nuts on Rosh Hashanah?
A: So we don’t go “nuts” in the new year!
Q: Why do we eat symbolic foods on Rosh Hashanah?
A: To manifest our hopes for the coming year!
Q: Why do we blow the shofar 100 times on Rosh Hashanah?
A: To make sure we wake up for the Jewish new year!
Q: Why do we dip apples in honey?
A: For a sweet new year!
Q: What does Tashlich represent?
A: Casting away our sins!
Q: Why is a round challah traditionally eaten?
A: To symbolize the cycle of life and sweet new year!
Bible and History Riddles
Q: Which Biblical matriarch was remembered on Rosh Hashanah?
A: Rachel
Q: Which Biblical figure’s birth is said to be on Rosh Hashanah?
A: Samuel
Q: How many days does Rosh Hashanah last?
A: Two days
Q: On which month does Rosh Hashanah fall on the Jewish calendar?
A: Tishrei
Q: What was the original name for Rosh Hashanah?
A: Yom Teruah or the Day of Blasting
Q: When was the name Rosh Hashanah first recorded historically?
A: In the second century CE by rabbis
Q: Which book describes the Rosh Hashanah practices and customs?
A: The Talmud
Q: What major event happened on Rosh Hashanah according to Jewish tradition?
A: The creation of the world
Q: Which Biblical figure blew the shofar on Rosh Hashanah?
A: Abraham
Q: What is another name for the Jewish New Year?
A: Rosh Hashanah
Q: Which holiday follows 10 days after Rosh Hashanah?
A: Yom Kippur
Q: What is Tashlich?
A: The Rosh Hashanah ritual of casting away sins
Q: What does the word Rosh Hashanah mean?
A: Head of the year
Conclusion
Rosh Hashanah marks the Jewish New Year and is full of fun traditions, rituals, history and meaning. These riddles about Rosh Hashanah cover topics like food, customs, Bible stories and more. They are a playful way to quiz yourself or others about this important High Holiday. Whether you tell them at a Rosh Hashanah dinner or just ponder them yourself, these riddles offer intellectual reflection as we celebrate the chance to begin anew. L’Shanah Tovah – to a sweet New Year!
