08/09/2026
This week, AICAT joins our Arava community and Jews worldwide in preparing for and celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
To many of our international students and alumni, a "new year" typically starts on January 1st (according to the Gregorian calendar, based on the solar cycle). However, Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish calendar, which follows the lunar cycle. This means the start of the Hebrew year (5787), an ancient rhythm of time that aligns naturally with the changing seasons.
The term Rosh Hashanah literally translates to "Head of the Year." It is not merely a celebration; it is a time for deep reflection on the past year, thoughtful consideration of our path, and an opportunity to reset and establish intentions for the months ahead.
We mark this milestone with symbolic foods, wishing for a Shana Tova u'Metuka (A Good and Sweet Year):
🍎🍯 Apples and Honey: A prayer for a sweet, wholesome year ahead.
🌿🔴 Pomegranates: Representing abundance, purpose, and good deeds.
🌴✨ Medjool Dates: Reflecting resilience, strength, and the agricultural roots of the Arava.
As our desert fields welcome the new planting season and our classrooms prepare for the arrival of new students, we wish the entire AICAT family—past and present—a meaningful, sweet, and prosperous new year.
May this coming year bring growth, discovery, peace, and abundance.
SHANA TOVA • שָׁנָה טוֹבָה!
