Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is most often imagined around a table full of family, friends, and overflowing platters of symbolic foods. The prayers echo in a packed sanctuary, the shofar sounds before hundreds of ears, and the new year begins as a community.
But not everyone greets the new year in a crowd. Sometimes life places us in a quieter space — a dorm room, an apartment far from family, a new city, or a season of solitude. And yet, Rosh Hashanah for one can be deeply moving. The essence of the holiday — reflection, renewal, return — belongs to every soul, whether surrounded by many or alone with Hashem.
Setting the Space: On the eve of the holiday, light candles as the sun sets. The flicker of flame can transform even the simplest room into sacred space. Speak a blessing aloud, or whisper your own prayer: “May this year be filled with sweetness, growth, and peace.”
Personal Prayer & Reflection: Rosh Hashanah invites us to pause and take account of our lives. Alone, this practice can be powerful. Journal about the year just passed:
Where did I fall short? What am I proud of? What do I hope for in the coming year?
These questions are the heart of teshuvah — turning back toward our best selves.
The Sound of Awakening: If you have a shofar, sound it yourself. If not, play a recording online. The blasts are meant to awaken the soul, to remind us that every moment is an invitation to return. Even in solitude, you can feel the echo inside.
A Festive Meal for One: Prepare a plate that feels abundant: apples dipped in honey for sweetness, a piece of round bread (or even a roll) for the cycle of life, pomegranate seeds for fruitfulness. Sit down, bless the food, and savor it slowly. A single plate can carry all the meaning of a feast for One.
Casting Off: Go to a river, lake, or even a small bowl of water. Drop breadcrumbs, leaves, or pebbles into the flow. As they drift away, imagine your burdens and mistakes being carried from you. This simple act — called tashlich — can feel just as powerful when performed alone.
Closing with Hope: As the holiday comes to a close, write yourself a blessing for the year ahead. Tuck it into a journal, post it on your wall, or slip it inside a book you’ll return to often. Let it be your reminder that Rosh Hashanah is not only a beginning, but a promise — that each year, each day, we are renewed.
Love, Eve
