Book of Life

Jewish tradition paints a picture of G-d keeping a Book of Life, in which our fate for the coming year is sealed. For this reason, there are special greetings we share with each other during the High Holy Days:

Before Rosh Hashanah

.כתיבה וחתימה טובה
Ketivah v’chatima tovah.
A good inscription and sealing (in the Book of Life).

On Rosh Hashanah

.לשנה טובה תכתב ותחתם
L’Shanah tovah tikatev v’tichatem. (Addressing males)

.לשנה טובה תכתבי ותחתמי
L’Shanah tovah tikatevee v’tichatemee. (Addressing females)

May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.

Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

!גמר חתימה טובה
G’mar chatima tova!
A good final sealing (in the Book of Life)!
It is also common to wish each other an easy and/or meaningful fast.

General Holiday Greeting

.לשנה טובה
Shanah Tovah.
A good year.

.לשנה טובה תכתבו
L’Shanah Tovah Tikatayvu.
May you be inscribed for a good year.

.לשנה טובה ומתוקה
L’Shanah Tovah u’Metukah.
To a good and sweet new year.