Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish celebration of the New Year.
The catch-all Jewish new year greeting for the entire season is “Shanah tovah” (שנה טובה), which means “Good year.” The word “u’metuka” (ומתוקה), and sweet, is sometimes appended to the end.
On October 2, Jewish people celebrate Rosh Hashana. Literally, it means, Head (Rosh) of the Year (Shana).
This year is the celebration of the year 5785. Instead of sequin dresses, champagne and watching the ball drop, the focus is introspection. What parts of ourselves need attention? Who do we need to forgive? What relationships need repair?
Rosh Hashanah takes place on the first day of the Hebrew month Tishrei. In the Hebrew calendar, Tishrei is actually the seventh month of the year.
Rosh Hashanah begins October 2, 2024, at sundown and it concludes at nightfall on October 4, 2024.
Rosh Hashanah begins the leadup to Yom Kippur, some of the holiest days in the Hebrew year (known as “Days of Awe”). Rosh Hashanah celebrates God’s creation of mankind and is sometimes viewed as a birthday celebration as opposed to a New Year’s celebration.
According to tradition, Rosh Hashanah is celebrated over two days due to questions around when the new moon would appear in the sky.
There are a number of great ways to wish someone a happy new year for Rosh Hashanah:
“Shanah Tovah” means “Good year” (essentially “Happy New Year”) in Hebrew.
“L’Shanah tovah” is the same.
“Shanah tovah um’tukah” means “Have a good and sweet year.”
“Tizku l’shanim rabot” means “May you see many more years.”
“Happy Rosh Hashanah” is easy and kind!
“L’shanah tovah tikateivu v’teichateimu” means “A good year, and may you be inscribed and sealed.” This refers to the Book of Life.
In Yiddish, “Gut yontif” means “Have a good holiday.” This greeting can be used for a number of Jewish holidays, including the traditionally somber Yom Kippur.
You can also say “Yom tov” for “good day.”
In Yiddish, you can say, “A gut gebentsht yohr,” which translates to “a good and blessed year.”
Another Yiddish greeting is “a gutten kvittl,” or “a good inscription.”
Leading up to Yom Kippur, you can say, “tzom kal” to wish someone an easy fast.
Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, you can say, “Gemar chatimah tovah.” This means “a good final sealing.”
“Have a great new year.”
“To a happy and healthy new year.”
“Have a blessed new year.”
Executive orders are not legislation in the traditional sense
Executive orders are not legislation in the traditional sense, but they do have the force of law under certain circumstances.
Here are the key points to understand about the legal status of these kinds of orders:
Legal Authority
Executive orders derive their authority from two main sources:
Force of Law
Executive orders have the force of law when they are:
Limitations
While these orders can have legal effect, they are subject to important limitations:
Differences from Legislation
Unlike laws passed by Congress, executive orders:
Judicial Review
Like statutes and regulations, executive orders are subject to judicial review. Courts may overturn these orders if they:
While executive orders are not identical to congressional legislation, they do carry legal weight within the scope of presidential authority and can significantly impact federal operations and policy implementation. Their status as “law” is contingent on their adherence to constitutional and statutory limits.
Notable examples of executive orders that have been overturned by courts:
Franklin D. Roosevelt Era
In 1935, the Supreme Court struck down five of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s executive orders related to the National Industrial Recovery Act.
This included:
The Court found these orders unconstitutional as they exceeded the president’s authority.
Harry Truman’s Steel Seizure
In the landmark 1952 case Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, the Supreme Court invalidated Executive Order 10340 issued by President Truman.
This order had directed the Secretary of Commerce to seize and operate most of the country’s steel mills during the Korean War. The Court ruled that Truman lacked the constitutional or statutory authority to seize private property in this manner.
Bill Clinton’s Labor Order
In 1995, a federal appeals court overturned Executive Order 12954 issued by President Bill Clinton.
This order had attempted to prevent the federal government from contracting with organizations that employed strike-breakers. The court ruled that the order conflicted with the National Labor Relations Act.
Donald Trump’s Travel Ban
Parts of President Trump’s Executive Order 13769, which temporarily banned entry to the U.S. for citizens of several Muslim-majority countries, were initially stayed by federal courts in 2017.
However, in 2018, the Supreme Court ultimately upheld a revised version of the travel ban in Trump v. Hawaii.
Other Examples
These cases demonstrate that while executive orders can be powerful tools for presidents, they are subject to judicial review and can be overturned if found to exceed presidential authority or violate existing laws.