It is customary to exchange the Parochet in the synagogue with a white Parochot for the period of the Yamim Nora’im, as white symbolizes the purity of repentance, when we clear away the sins from our record.
The obligation of "Mosifin Me’hol Al Ha’kodesh" – to add some time onto the holiday – applies on Rosh Hashanah just as it does on Shabbat. This means that we should begin the holiday several minutes before sundown, rather than waiting until sunset to accept the onset of the Yom Tob.
One should enter the synagogue on the night of Rosh Hashanah with a sense of awe and dread, recognizing that the judgment is getting underway. Although the actual judgment of Rosh Hashanah does not take place until the daytime, the night of Rosh Hashanah is when the chairs are being set up in the heavenly courtroom, so-to-speak, and this realization should bring awe and fear as we begin the evening service on the night of Rosh Hashanah. The Arbit service should be recited with intense feeling and concentration.
It is customary to sing the "Ahot Ketana" hymn on the night of Rosh Hashanah. The refrain of this hymn, "Tichleh Shana Ve’kileloteha," is taken from the Gemara in Masechet Megila (31), and means, "The year shall end along with its curses." The plain meaning of this sentence is that is expresses our wish that the end of the year shall bring an end to all our hardships and difficulties. However, the students of the Arizal taught that the term "curses" here also refers to our sins, and means that we hope the end of the year marks the end of our wrongful behavior. Likewise, the concluding passage of the hymn, "Tahel Shana U’birchoteha" – "The year shall begin along with its blessings" – refers to both material and spiritual blessings, expressing our hope that the new year shall bring success and prosperity, as well as spiritual achievement and the fulfillment of the Misvot.
