Rosh Hashanah 2025
Date: September 23, 2025 (Tuesday)
Country: Montenegro Public Holidays
Description
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. It is a time for thinking about the past year and hoping for a good new one. People mark the start of a new cycle in their religious calendar.
The holiday falls on the first and second days of the Hebrew month called Tishrei. On the regular calendar this usually happens in September or October. Because the Hebrew calendar is lunar based the exact dates change each year.
In Montenegro the Jewish community is small. Still the day is important for Jewish people there because it connects them to their history, faith, and to Jewish communities around the world. It is a reminder of identity and continuity.
Rosh Hashanah also begins a period of reflection and spiritual preparation that leads to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. For Jewish people in Montenegro this time is significant for personal and communal renewal.
Traditions
In Montenegro small Jewish communities and families gather in synagogues or homes for Rosh Hashanah. They wear nice clothes, sing special prayers, and many people take turns blowing the shofar. Tables are set with festive cloths and candles.
Foods often include sweet things to hope for a good year. Families eat apples dipped in honey, round challah bread, and honey cake. Some families also serve pomegranates or fish. In parts of the Balkans a fish head may appear on the table as a symbol of being "first" in the new year.
Rituals include tashlich by a river or the sea for throwing away sins, visiting friends and elders, and sending warm greetings to neighbors and family.
Travel Tips
Check opening hours in towns and at tourist sites. Some small shops and community centers may close or have changed hours. Public transport and ferry timetables can be busier in mornings and evenings. Book tours, restaurants, and accommodation early.
Look up local Jewish community events in Podgorica or coastal towns and RSVP. Bring limited kosher snacks or plan meals ahead. Respect prayer spaces and dress quietly near services. Keep ID and emergency numbers handy, and choose calm sightseeing times to enjoy Montenegro safely and respectfully.