Rosh Hashanah is also called Yom HaDin, the Day of Judgment.
The name reflects a central theme of the High Holy Days: Jewish tradition portrays Rosh Hashanah as a time when humanity is judged for the coming year. The Mishnah describes all creatures as passing before God like a flock, while later rabbinic teachings speak of books of judgment being opened. These images emphasize moral accounting rather than merely marking the start of a calendar year.
Yom HaDin begins the Ten Days of Repentance, which culminate in Yom Kippur. During this period, prayer, teshuvah—or repentance and return—and charitable action are traditionally emphasized. The liturgy also describes Rosh Hashanah as a coronation of God and as Yom HaZikaron, the Day of Remembrance.
Yom HaDin should not be confused with Yom Teruah, the biblical expression associated with the day’s shofar blasts, or with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Rosh Hashanah is also widely known as the Jewish New Year, but Yom HaDin highlights its religious meaning as an annual day of judgment and reflection.