wasovmv,v44

page 168

Distant Campuses:
Bittersweet Time . page 174

ANNABEL COHEN
Special to the Jewish News

Mr

ho knows when
the first wedge of
crisp, cool apple
was dipped into a
pool of golden sweet honey? The
fact is, though, that one of the
sweetest rituals of Rosh HaShana
is the dipping of apples or chal-
lah in honey while asking God
for a zeesen yar, sweet year,
before the beginning of the main
holiday meal.
Sweet foods have always been
analogous with the sweetness of
the Jewish New Year. And no
other culinary combination is as
evocative of these holy days than
apples and honey.
So while many Americans
eschew the eating of these foods
together during the remainder of
the year (not because they don't
taste good, but usually because
we forget how good this combi-
nation is), it's never left off a
Rosh HaShana menu.
Moreover, foods that are con-
sidered sour or bitter are usually
avoided during the two (or one
long) days of Rosh HaShana.
But why do Jews use the apple
specifically and why honey to
symbolize hopes and desires?

•

Apples and honey are eaten together for many good reasons.

Apples

Its interesting to note that the
name apple in the Bible was a
general name for many varieties
of round fruits, such as apricots,
peaches, plums, pomegranate
and quince.
It's even been suggested that
when Eve bit into the infamous
apple in the Garden of Eden, she
may have actually eaten ferment-
ed grapes, which may have made
her tipsy.
It stands to reason then that
apples are not the only fruits tra-
ditionally served during the
High Holy Days. Customarily,
new fruits of the season grace
holiday tables around the globe.

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Detroit Jewish News Ii