Marking the new year, from Yad Vashem’s collections

The holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are traditionally a time for introspection, asking for and giving forgiveness, resolving to do better, and praying for a healthy and happy year to come.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a time of prayer, family gatherings, special meals and sweet tasting foods.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn day of the Jewish year and is a day of fasting, reflection and repentance.

Through testimony, artifacts, photos, cards and prayer books from Yad Vashem’s collections, we offer a glimpse into some of the ways that Jews before, during and immediately after the Holocaust marked these special days.