Before Rosh Hashanah starts be sure to dip your iPhone into honey for a sweet year and after Rosh Hashanah 2nd Day go out and get a Kosher Cell phone.
 After dipping your Apple iPhone in honey get a Kosher phone after Rosh Hashanah for a good and sweet year |
 Kosher Cell Phone |
A Few Health Tips:First Tip: Think Sampler SizesIn order to taste everything at the Rosh Hashanah table, have a small amount of everything – like apples and honey and apple challah; have just one matzo ball in the soup; enjoy the brisket in moderation; and have the fruit compote instead of the honey cake.Second Tip: Lighten up the dishes that are rich and at the same time particularly desirable and comforting (and easy to over eat).From chabad.org Rosh Hashanah Eve MealRosh Hashanah Seder According to Ashkenazi CustomKiddush Before starting the Rosh Hashanah meal, we sanctify the holiday by reciting the kiddush over a cup of wine or grape juice. Click here for the Hebrew text of the kiddush.1 |
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| Rosh Hashanah foods consist of the basic foods mentioned by Rabbi Abaye: pumpkin, the specific type of bean-like food called rubiyah (such as fenugreek, chick-peas, black-eyed peas, string beans, green beans, and aniseeds), leeks, beets or beetroot leaves, and dates. However, over the centuries, additional foods have been added to the Rosh Hashanah meal, with the type of food or foods added differing depending on the Jewish community in a given country. Foods that have been popular additions to the Rosh Hashanah include: apples and honey, challah pomegranates, figs, carrots, Swiss chard, other gourds besides pumpkin such as squash; scallions, spinach, zucchini, whole cloves (as a spice), sesame seeds, and sugar (instead of honey when used with apples). All the aforementioned Rosh Hashanah foods are known as “simanim” in Hebrew, meaning the “symbolic foods” of Rosh Hashanah.
Ashkenazi Jews usually serve the following foods at their Rosh Hashanah festive meals: chopped liver, brisket or roast turkey (usually stuffed) or roast chicken, lokhshen kugel (“lokhshen kugel” means “noodle pudding” in Yiddish), matzo balls (usually chicken soup or vegetable soup with matzo balls), tzimmes or tsimmes (usually a sweet carrot, prune, and raisin compote, but sometimes containing meat as well), gefilte fish (“gefilte” means “stuffed” in Yiddish, symbolizing the hope that the upcoming year will be filled with good omens), coleslaw, sliced tomatoes, eggplant, specific cooked vegetables that support the themes of Rosh Hashanah such as sliced carrots and string beans, and sponge cake or honey cake. Challah bread dipped in honey and wine are also used in the Rosh Hashanah. Sweet dates are served to symbolize the wish that the New Year will be equally sweet. After reciting the yehi ratson prayer (below), most Sephardim eat the dates as they are. Some Moroccan Jews add a gourmet touch. They dip the dates in a mixture of ground sesame seeds, anise seeds and powdered sugar. (Apples are also dipped in this mixture). Interestingly, “yitamu”, which sounds like “tamar”, the Hebrew word for date, is introduced in the yehi ratson in a sense that gives this word another meaning. “Yitamu hata’im” literally means “May the wicked of the earth be removed.” As we eat this date, may we date the New Year that is beginning as one of happiness and blessing, and peace for all men. Blessed are Thou, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree. Every pomegranate, it is said, contains exactly 613 seeds, precisely the number of mitzvoth, Biblical commandments Jews are obliged to fulfill. As they eat this fruit, Sephardim pray that their lives during the coming year will be filled with as many good deeds as the pomegranate has seeds. In the coming year, may we be rich and replete with acts inspired by religion and piety as this pomegranate is rich and replete with seeds. The apple’s roundness symbolizes a hope that the New Year will be joyous from the beginning until it goes full circle. Dipping an apple in honey expresses a wish for a sweet New Year. May it be Thy will, Lord our God, God of our father, to grant us a year from the first day to the last, goodly as the apple and sweet as honey. “And Nehemiah said to them, go, eat rich dainties and drink sweet drinks, and send portions to him to has nothing ready, for today is holy to our Lord. Grieve not, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Food made with pumpkin is served to express the hope that as this vegetable has been protected by a thick covering, God will protect us and gird us with strength. The Hebrew word for pumpkin or gourd is “kraa”. Sephardim pun on this and say “yikaru lefanekha z’khuyoteinu,” May our good deeds be called out before the Lord at the time of judgment. “May the coming year grow as a gourd in fullness of blessing. In the year to come, if enemies gird at us, mayest Thou guard us as we eat of this gourd with the prayer: Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who createst the fruit of the earth.” LEEK “Kartee” is the Hebrew word for leek. In the yehi ratson, Sephardim say “yikartu oyvekha,” May all of God’s enemies be cut off. This pun in English on “leek” probably evokes more chuckles than any other double-entendre in the yehi ratson ceremony. Like as we eat this leek may our luck never lack in the year to come.
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| BEETROOT
Sephardim generally perform the yehi ratson with spinach or Swiss chard, although the leafy part of the beet may also be used. In English translation, the stress is on our desire to “beat” those who intend to do us harm. “Silka” is the Hebrew word referring to the greens mentioned above. The verse that begins “yistalku oyvekha” also expresses the wish that the enemies of the Jews will be removed. As we bite this beet, may those who in the past have beaten us or sought our harm beat to cover in the coming year. 2 Recipes for Lamb’s Head (Untested)“Rosh Hashannah” literally means head of the year. The sheep or fish head symbolizes the hope that each of us will be at the head of whatever we do, rather than at the tail end. Rosh Hashanah meals often include apples and honey, to symbolize a sweet new year. Various other foods with a symbolic meaning may be served, depending on local minhag (“custom”), such as cooked tongue or other meat from the head of an animal (to symbolize the “head” of the year). |
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From aish.com Symbolic FoodsOn Rosh Hashanah, we eat foods that symbolize good things we hope for in the coming year. We contemplate what these foods symbolize, and connect with the Source of all good things. Here is a list from the Talmud of symbolic foods customarily eaten on Rosh Hashanah. (The food and its related meaning are written in capital letters.)
You can also use other foods and make up your own “May it be Your will…” For example, eat a raisin and celery, and ask God in the coming year for a “raise in salary” (raisin celery)! |
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From chabad.org Rosh Hashanah Seder According to Sephardic CustomOn both nights of Rosh Hashanah, a number of foods are eaten to symbolize our prayers and hopes for a sweet new year. Many of these foods were specifically chosen because their Hebrew names are related to other Hebrew words that convey our wishes for the coming year.1 An accompanying prayer is recited, expressing our wishes inherent in these words and foods.2 Recite each prayer while holding the particular food in the right hand, immediately before it is eaten. Before Rosh Hashanah, gather the following items:
After chanting kiddush, washing, and breaking bread, the following foods are eaten: תמרים Dates. Related to the word תם—to end. Take a date and recite: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלֹהינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָעֵץ After eating the date, take another one and say: יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלֹהינוּ וֵאלֵֹהי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁיִּתַּמּוּ אוֹיְבֵינוּ וְשׂוֹנְאֵינוּ וְכָל מְבַקְשֵׁי רָעָתֵנוּ May it be Your will, Lord our G‑d and the G‑d of our fathers, that there come an end to our enemies, haters and those who wish evil upon us. רוביא—לוביא Small beans. Related to the words, רב—many, and לב—heart. (The following blessing over vegetables is only recited if one has not recited the blessing over bread:3 בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלֹהינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the earth.) Take some white beans and say: יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלֹהינוּ וֵאלֵֹהי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁיִּרְבּוּ זָכִיּוֹתֵינוּ וּתְלַבְּבֵנוּ May it be Your will, Lord our G‑d and the G‑d of our fathers, that our merits shall increase and that You hearten us. כרתי Leek. Related to the word כרת—to cut. Take a leek and say: יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלֹהינוּ וֵאלֵֹהי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁיִּכָּרְתוּ אוֹיְבֵינוּ וְשׂוֹנְאֵינוּ וְכָל מְבַקְשֵׁי רָעָתֵנוּ May it be Your will, Lord our G‑d and the G‑d of our fathers, that our enemies, haters, and those who wish evil upon us shall be cut down. סלקא Beets. Related to the word סלק—to depart. Take a beet and say: יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלֹהינוּ וֵאלֵֹהי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁיִּסְתַּלְּקוּ אוֹיְבֵינוּ וְשׂוֹנְאֵינוּ וְכָל מְבַקְשֵׁי רָעָתֵנוּ May it be Your will, Lord our G‑d and the G‑d of our fathers, that our enemies, haters and those who wish evil upon us shall depart. קרא Gourd. Related to the word קרע—to rip apart, and also קרא—to announce. Take a gourd and say: יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלֹהינוּ וֵאלֵֹהי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתִּקְרַע רוֹעַ גְּזַר דִּינֵנוּ, וְיִקָּרְאוּ לְפָנֶיךָ זָכִיּוֹתֵינוּ May it be Your will, Lord our G‑d and the G‑d of our fathers, that the evil of our verdicts be ripped, and that our merits be announced before you. רימון Pomegranate. Take the pomegranate and say: יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלֹהינוּ וֵאלֵֹהי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁנִּהְיֶה מְלֵאִים מִצְוֹת כָּרִמּוֹן May it be Your will, Lord our G‑d and the G‑d of our fathers, that we be filled with mitzvot like a pomegranate [is filled with seeds]. תפוח בדבש Apple and Honey. Dip an apple in honey – some have the custom of using an apple cooked with sugar – and say: יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלֹהינוּ וֵאלֵֹהי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתְּחַדֵּשׁ עָלֵינוּ שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה כַּדְּבָשׁ May it be Your will, Lord our G‑d and the G‑d of our fathers, that You renew for us a year good and sweet like honey. ראש כבש Ram’s Head (or the head of another kosher animal or fish4). יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלֹהינוּ וֵאלֵֹהי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁנִּהְיֶה לְרֹאשׁ וְלֹא לְזָנָב May it be Your will, Lord our G‑d and the G‑d of our fathers, that we be a head and not a tail. (The following is added only over the head of a ram: וְתִזְכֹּר לָנוּ עֲקֵדָתוֹ וְאֵילוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק אָבִינוּ בֶּן אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ עַלֵיהֶם הַשָּׁלוֹם …And You shall remember for us the binding and the ram of our forefather Isaac, the son of our forefather Abraham, peace be onto them.) |
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| How to put together your Rosh Hashanah seder:
Swiss chard latkes – Get the recipe here. Dates – Simply serve plain dates, or if you can get fresh yellow dates (available in September at many Middle Eastern stores) you can chop them into green salads. Haricots verts – Mix with a little olive oil, sprinkle with salt and roast in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes or until tender. Squash – The traditional Mizrahi and Sephardi way is to fry chunks of pumpkin or squash and serve it dipped in sugar. You could also mix butternut squash chunks with honey, olive oil and kosher salt and roast in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about an hour, or until tender. Pomegranate – You can either serve the seeds plain or try this recipe for pomegranate and roasted beet salad (two blessings in one dish) or this recipe for tilapia and pomegranate ceviche (again, two blessings in one, the fish and pomegranate). Apple Jam – An Iraqi tradition. In a large bowl, mix 2 pounds of red apples with 1 pound sugar and 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom. Cover and let sit overnight. The next day, transfer to a pot, bring to boil, remove foam, and cook on low heat until very tender. Add juice of one lemon at the end. Keep in the fridge. Leek latkes – Excellent with or without meat. Those are hard to resist, especially hot straight out of the pan, so hide them well until dinner. |
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Rosh Hashanah Food Customs
To get into the mood, consider these examples. One may eat an avocado in the hope that God might be our advocate, or the thought that “I will pare away my sins in this new year” could be accompanied by eating a pear. But let us not take this too far: “Lettuce look forward to a wonderful year” might be going over the edge. But restraint wasn’t apparently on the mind of one well-known rabbi, who commented that perhaps eating a raisin with a celery stalk could certainly express the hope for “a raise in salary” (attributed to Rav Moshe Heinemann of Baltimore). But more on this later.
Many of us are familiar with some or even most of these food customs. But do you know the reasons that underlie these customs? Let’s look at some Rosh Hashanah food customs. The first three are common, but the ones that follow are less so. Much less common. Remember what I said above about puns? Keep that in mind when reading about some of these foods.
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2 Recipes for Lamb’s Head (Untested)From my experience as a kosher Chef. This is quite an endeavour but not impossible. One lambs head will not provide much meat but enough for all to taste. Here is one with usage of Moroccan spices/ Sephardic flavours which go nicely with lamb and garnished with glazed apples appropriate for the holiday.
Set oven at 350 degrees F. Rinse head well under cold water. in a roasting pan set on top of the stove heat the oil, cook the onions until they begin to turn an amber brown. Turn off the heat and add the garlic, thyme, chicken stock, bay, clove, cinnamon,coriander seed, peppercorns and vinegar.Place the head on to the onions. cover with parchment paper and a tight fitting lid or aluminium foil securely so not to lose the liquid inside pan. Cook for 2.5 hours until cheek meat is fork tender. For the glazed apples;
Toss apple in the brown sugar to coat. In a saute pan heat oil and carefully add apples in a single layer. lightly caramelize on all sides and place in the 350 degree oven for approximately 15 minutes until apples can be pierced easily with a knife.When ready removed apples from pan and set aside. place pan back onto stove and over a medium flame. Add the crushed spices cook for a minute or two to release their flavours. then add strained cooking broth and honey Bring to a boil and lower to simmer for ten minutes or until the glaze has thickened. Remove from heat and strain over roasted apples to coat. Taste and adjust with salt black pepper and vinegar if needed. Place head onto a platter of watercress or arugula ( optional) and pour apples and glaze over the head. Chag Sameach
Title: Roasted Lamb’s Head http://www.recipesource.com/ethnic/asia/chinese/roasted-lambs-head1.html
Remove eyes and tongue of lamb’s head. Then parboil head in water to cover for 10 minutes. Simmer tongue for 30 minutes in salted water; Make a marinade by combining remaining ingredients; pour over head while warm and marinate for 1 hour, turning occasionally. Bake in a 325F oven for 1 1/2 hours, basting from time to time. Place on a bed of parsley, surrounded by cherry tomatoes. Decorate with a garland of daisies. To serve, crack head down center and remove meat. From “Innards and Other Variety Meats”. Jana Allen and Margret Gin. Posted by Stephen Ceideburg November 7 1990. |
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would not make much sense to us since they are, of course, in Hebrew and Aramaic, but this idea could certainly be extended to whatever language we speak.
the lamb for sacrifice. But Abraham knew that his son was to be the sacrifice, was to be the seh akeida. At the last minute, however, God did provide an animal—a ram—for the sacrifice, sparing Isaac (and giving us another tradition concerning the use of the ram’s horn for the shofar). Through the chain of gematria, by eating apples at Rosh Hashanah we symbolically express the hope that some of Abraham’s merit in trusting God will accrue to us, and we will be granted a good year.Another reason mentioned by the Rabbis is based on the Torah, where Isaac blessed Jacob by saying, “The fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field which Adonai has blessed…” (Gen. 27:27). The Rabbis of the Talmud identified this “field” as an apple orchard (Ta’anit 29b, Biyur Hagra).
Shirat Devorah