Apples and honey may be the symbolic stars of Rosh Hashanah, but for some Jewish families they are just the beginning. The custom of holding a Rosh Hashanah seder, where a series of symbolic foods are eaten before the meal, is becoming an increasingly common practice in Sephardic and Mizrahi families where the tradition originated, and even in some Ashkenazic households.
Each of the chosen foods — generally a pomegranate, date, string bean, beet, pumpkin, leek, and fish head— symbolize a wish or blessing for prosperity and health in the coming year. The food’s significance is most often based on a pun of that food’s name (find out more here.) During the Rosh Hashanah meal, each food is held up, blessed, and eaten as if to personally ingest or take in those good wishes.
Rosh Hashanah’s symbolic foods can make an appearance on the holiday table, regardless of whether one decides to incorporate a full Rosh Hashanah seder into their celebration. For a creative twist on the traditional seder, make dishes inspired by each food (like the ones linked below) and serve them throughout the evening to infuse the entire meal with symbolic meaning as well as delicious flavors.
Pomegranate Brisket with Cranberry Succotash
Beet Chips With Spicy Honey Mayo
Green Beans with Honey Tahini Glaze
Roasted Beet and Leek Rissotto
Pomegranate And Honey Glazed Chicken
Roasted Beets with Cilantro-Basil Pesto
Black-Eye Peas With Turmeric and Pomegranate
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The post Beyond Apples and Honey: Symbolic Foods for Rosh Hashanah appeared first on My Jewish Learning.
