The Book of BeMidbar refers to the first day of the seventh month as a “Yom Teruah”- a Day of Loud Blasts and “Mikra Kodesh” – a day of holiness (Numbers 29, 1). In Sefer Vayikra, the day is referred to as “Zikhron Teruah”- A Remembrance of Loud Blasts (Leviticus 23, 24).
Sadly, we are familiar with one tragic event that happened at the time of Rosh HaShana: the assassination of Gedalya, the governor of the remnant of Judah after the destruction of the First Beit HaMikdash (II Kings 25, 25; Jeremiah 41, 1). Today, we commemorate this tragedy the day after Rosh HaShana.
On a happier note, the festivals take on added joy during the time of the Return to Zion.
The Book of Ezra describes the renewal of sacrificing on the new altar even before the Beit HaMikdash was rebuilt on the first day of the seventh month (Ezra 3, 6).
A joyous and dramatic portrayal of Rosh HaShana appears in Sefer Nehemiah. Nehemiah describes the men and women as having gathered from their various cities to hear the Torah being read in Jerusalem on the first of the seventh month, what we would call Rosh HaShana. The people came, united as one, as Ezra the Scribe ascended a raised wooden platform for communal Torah reading and blessings. All in attendance answered “Amen”, but they wept as they heard the Torah being read. Nehemiah told the people not to mourn or be sad, as this day is a day of Holiness for the Lord. He exhorted those present to rejoice, to eat sweets and drink, to send gifts of food and goodwill to each other. So the people sent “mishloach manot” on Rosh HaShana and had a day of great happiness and celebration. (Nehemiah 8, 1-12).