Why is Rosh Hashanah where it is its not at the time of anything special or seasonal like the shortest day or the middle of a season?

Answer 1

Rosh Hashanah IS special because it is the New Year for Judaism. In Leviticus 23:24 the command is to have a day of the blowing of the trumpets. This day is called Yom Teruah or Rosh Hashanah. The priests decided that this day was so important that it became the liturgical New Year. It marks the beginning of the High Holy Days of Judaism. The High Holy Days come in a cycle just like the seasons. These days come in the fall of the year and there are three commanded in The Bible. Judaism celebrates one more day, so there are four holidays within a cycle. The command says to gather together on Rosh Hashanah. Judaism celebrates the New Year on this day. Next comes Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, ten days later. Eight days after Yom Kippur comes Succot, the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles is seven days long as commanded in the Bible. Judaism adds another day, Simchat Torah, Rejoicing in the Law to Succot. The reason is that this is the traditional day that Moses came down from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments. Just as other religions practice special holy days, so too does Judaism. In Judaism's view, these particular days are commandments from God and must be celebrated.