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Bre a
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ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
AppleTree Editor
IED
hysicians say that they're good for
the eyes. Rabbits just like the taste
of them. But did you know that
carrots also are believed to symbol-
ize multiple blessings?
On the High Holidays, we look to the
future. This is expressed not only in our
prayers, but in our foods — eaten on Rosh
Hashanah and just before Yom Kippur — as
well.
If you're looking to fill your holiday table
with traditional dishes that reflect the Jewish
people's hopes and dreams, here's everything
you need to know.
Honey: No Rosh Hashanah would be com-
plete without challah drenched in honey. This
is an ancient custom, more than 1,500 years
old, which, of course, speaks of our hope for a
sweet new year.
Indeed, we set aside salt, usually eaten with
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F
o o
SYMBOLISM
_THE HIGH HOLIDAYS.
challah on Shabbat, to use the honey instead.
Some carry this custom even further, serving
absolutely nothing sour or bitter for the holi-
day.
Honey Cake: In Hebrew, this is called lekach,
which means portion.
And while it is indeed sweet, that's not the
main reason for serving honey cake at Rosh
Hashanah. In fact, honey cake was inspired by
the Book of Proverbs 4:2, which reads: -"For I
give you good lekach, do not forsake My teach-
ing." The honey cake reflects one's hope that
those who follow God's teachings will receive a
"good portion."
Beet Root: This is a chasidic tradition that is
inspired by the Hebrew word selek, which
means beet.
Selek is believed to sound like sh'yistalku from
the words sh'yistlku oivaynu ("May we rid our-
selves of our enemies"), which is said on Rosh
Hashanah.
New Fruits: Though summer offers the best
produce of the entire year, some
Jewish families abstain from
tasting any.
This is because they
reserve enjoying the first fruits
of the season for the second night of
Rosh Hashanah, when one may utter
the Shehechiyanu, a brachah, or bless-
ing, said especially for doing some-
thing for the first time (or, for a first
time in a certain season). The fruits most pop-
ular on the second night of Rosh. Hashanah are
pomegranates (some believe they contain 613
seeds, the same number of mitzvot, or corn-
mandments, in the Torah) and grapes.
Round Challah: On Rosh Hashanah, we look
with hope to the future. A round bread is said
to symbolize a lifecycle that continues unbro-
ken and harmonious.
While round challah is the most popular
challah on this holiday, it is not the only
unique shape used by Jews at Rosh Hashanah.
Some like to make a challah in the form of a
ladder, inspired by the High Holiday prayer
UNetaneh Tokef; which includes the famous
lines, "Who will live and who will die; Who
will be rich, and who will be poor ..." The lad-
der shows one's hopes to rise on the ladder of
life.
Among Jews from Ukraine, a popular holi-
day challah shape is that of the bird, echoing
one's hope that God will watch over the Jews.
It is based on Isaiah 31:5, 'As hovering birds,
so will the Lord protect Jerusalem."
Tsimmes: This traditional dish may be made
with any variety of vegetables and fruits that a
creative cook can come up with. But it always
includes honey and carrots. Why?
In Yiddish, the word for carrot is meiren,
which also translates to "multiply." By eat-
ing carrots on Rosh Hashanah, we hope
that our blessings and joys multiply in the
coming year.
Sliced carrots coated with honey further are
believed to resemble gold, which reflects our
hopes for a year of prosperity.
No Nuts: This has nothing to do with in-laws
or those of an opposing political party who
may drive us nuts.
Instead, many Jews will avoid nuts on Rosh
Hashanah because the Hebrew word for nuts is
egoz, which has the same numerical value as
A BREAD OF BIRDS on page 41
7/19
2002
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