Hasanah.ml - Rosh Hashana | Definition, Meaning, Traditions,

The Meaning of “Hasanah”: Hasanah comes from a root word which implies something pleasant and desirable to the intellect, fancies and desires, or the physical senses. It denotes every delightful ni’mah, or bounty, which a person can obtain for his/her body, mind and soul.

Barakah is not the specific blessing (ni’mah) itself, but an increase in that given bounty ( al-Qushayri, Tafseer ul Quran). Hasanah comes from a root word which implies something pleasant and desirable to the intellect, fancies and desires, or the physical senses.

“L’shana tovah”: Jews greet each other on Rosh Hashanah with the Hebrew phrase “L’shana tovah,” which translates to “for a good year.” This is a shortened version of the Rosh Hashanah salutation “L’shanah tovah tikatev v’taihatem” (“May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year”).

The Mishna described three other “new years” in the Jewish calendar in addition to Rosh Hashanah. Nisan 1 was used to resume the cycle of months and measure the duration of kings’ reigns. Elul 1 resembled the start of the modern fiscal year and determined the tithing of animals for charity or sacrifice.