Thursday, June 29, 2017

Greeting on the High Holy Days

Q: What are we supposed to say on the High Holy Days to one another?  There are so many expressions!

A: On all holy days, including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, it is permissible to say, “Gute yontif” (also Americanized as Good Yom Tov).  Yom Tov literally means “good day.”

More specific, less generic, are the following four expressions:

L’Shana Tovah Teekatayvu, “May you be inscribed for a good year.”
L’shanah tovah tikateyvu v’teihateimu, “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.”
K’teeva v’hatimah Tovah, “May you merit a good inscription and sealing.”  This is the phrase most frequently used as it can be used on Rosh Hashanah and the days leading up to and including Yom Kippur.

G’mar hatimah tovah, “May you have a favorable sealing.”  This is generally just reserved for the holy day of Yom Kippur as it reflects the final judgment.

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