Rosh HaShana is the only festival that is celebrated for two consecutive days in Israel. Outside Israel all festivals are observed for two days, with the exception of Yom Kippur. This practice, which was already established during the Temple period, stems from the extemporaneous manner by which the beginning of the months was determined, based on the testimony of witnesses who had sighted the new moon. The Sages discussed whether the two days of Rosh HaShana are considered like two separate, consecutive festivals or like one extended festival day that lasts for two days. This discussion has several halakhic ramifications.

The candles on the second day of Rosh HaShana should be lit only after the conclusion of the first day, following the appearance of three stars in the sky. The exact time is generally publicized in synagogue calendars. Some have the custom of lighting the candles just before the recitation of Kiddush at the evening meal. Since kindling a new fire is prohibited on a festival, the candles are lit by transferring fire from the existing flame of a long-burning candle, this being one of the main reasons it was lit. The match should not be extinguished after the lighting, but should be put down so that it can safely burn out on its own. On this night too, as on the first night of Rosh HaShana (see p. 135), two blessings are recited upon lighting the candles.

Apart from a few minor changes, the second day of Rosh HaShana is observed essentially in the same manner as the first day. As on the first night, the Sheheheyanu blessing is recited:

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this time.”

Following Kiddush, before washing hands for the meal, many have the custom to eat a seasonal fruit that one has not yet eaten in this season. This is because there is an opinion that the two days of Rosh HaShana are to be considered like one long festival, in which case the Sheheheyanu blessing should not be recited since it was already recited the previous night. Although the accepted halakha is that one recites the Sheheheyanu blessing regardless, many have the custom to eat a new fruit (or to wear a new garment), which would require a Sheheheyanu blessing in any event, so as to remove any doubt as to whether the blessing should be recited.

Further reading: In many communities, the eating of simanim that was performed on the first night (see p. 141) is repeated on the second night; in some it is not.

The Tashlikh ceremony is not performed on the second day unless the first day of the festival fell on Shabbat.

If the first day of the festival was Shabbat, one adds to the Kiddush of the second night a text of Havdala, ending with the words “…who distinguishes between sacred and sacred,” as mentioned above in the section dealing with the wording of Kiddush (p. 140).

At the conclusion of the second day of Rosh HaShana, after the evening prayers, Havdala is recited over a full cup of wine. The version of this Havdala is identical to the regular Havdala after Shabbat (for more on the procedure and halakhot of Havdala, see p. 398), except that one does not recite a blessing over a candle or spices, and many do not recite the opening sequence of verses: “Here is the God of my salvation...,” that are said at the conclusion of Shabbat. One starts with the blessing over wine: “…who creates fruit of the vine [hagafen],” before proceeding to the blessing of: “…who separates [hamavdil] between the sacred and the secular.” Some do recite the introductory verses of Havdala in the usual manner.

When Rosh HaShana falls on Thursday and Friday, one does not recite Havdala at all upon the conclusion of the festival, as it flows directly into Shabbat. Instead, one says only the regular Kiddush of Shabbat.