Rosh Hashana ראש השנה, which will begin at sundown this evening, September 24, 2014, is literally the ‘head’ of the year of Jewish festivals and holidays. ראש rosh means head in Hebrew and שנה means year. Rosh Hashana ראש השנה is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. Other names for the holiday are Yom Hazikaron (יום הזכרון), the Day of Remembrance and Yom Hadin (יום הדין), the Day of Judgement.
Rosh Hashana ראש השנה is celebrated for two days and is primarily observed as a communal day of prayer and introspection. Jewish people the world over will spend the days in the synagogue, praying with the community from a special prayer book called a מחזור maH’zor. These prayers, psalms and liturgical poems reflect themes of repentance, reflection and renewal. We take this time to look inwards and think upon the missteps of the past year with the hope of making changes in the new year.
At the synagogue on both Rosh Hashana ראש השנה and Yom Kippur יום כפור, the Shofar שופר is sounded. The Shofar שופר is one of the world’s oldest instruments. Made from the horn of a ram, is sounded throughout the High Holiday period. The Shofar שופר is an awakening call; a call to reflection and action, through thoughts and deeds. The celebrations of the day are a reminder that each year we are all capable of change and growth. Traditionally, people send one another New Year’s cards wishing them a happy and sweet new year, שנה טובה ומתוקה shana tova u’metuka.
When returning from a day of prayer and reflection, food traditions and festive meals await at home. There are various food customs that Jewish people in different communities around the world will celebrate with. One of the best known Rosh Hashana food traditions is eating apples dipped in honey tapuHim b’dvash תפוחים בדבש. The apples, תפוחים, remind us of the roundness of the year and the honey, דבש, represents the wish for a sweet new year. We eat a Hallah חלה bread which is specially shaped in the form of a rounded braid, representing a crown or the circular nature of the seasons of the year. Other traditions include eating pomegranates, fish heads and a new fruit on the second night of the holiday.
Since apples and honey tapuHim b’dvash תפוחים בדבש are a big Rosh Hashana food theme, we also eat many honey and apple desserts over the course of the two days. Below is a recipe for some easy honey and apple muffins you can make (or just pour into a loaf pan to make one loaf cake!) Try the recipe and try remembering the Hebrew words for the ingredients.
Ingredients:
- 3 eggs ביצים beitzim
- 1 1/3 cups honey דבש dvash
- 1 1/2 cups sugar סוכר sukar
- 1 cup orange juice מיץ תפוזים mitz tapuzim
- 3 tbsp. oil שמן shemen
- ½ cup grated apple תפוח מגורר tapuaH megurar
- 2 tsp. baking powder אבקת אפייה avkat afiya
- 1 ts. baking soda אבקת סודה avkat soda
- 4 cups flour קמח kemaH
- 1 tsp. cinnamon קינמון kinemon
Preparation:
1 Preheat oven to 350°F.
2 Grease and flour 12-cup muffin tin.
3 In a large bowl, beat eggs and honey together. Add sugar, juice, grated apple and oil and mix again.
4 Add baking powder, baking soda, flour, and cinnamon and beat together until combined.
5 Pour batter into muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
