Good Omens (Simanim) for Rosh Hashanah
glossary contents| Author: | Dr. Julian Schamroth |
|---|---|
| Date: | 25 September, 2008 |
'Apples dipped in honey' is probably the most well-known and widespread custom of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
Why do we eat these and other special foods? From where do these customs derive? And what foods are considered traditional
Rosh Hashanah fare?
Honey, having a sweet taste, is meant to portend a 'sweet' new year, But why do we eat apples? The Maharil explains that when
Jacob disguised himself as Esau in order to 'trick' Isaac, his father, into giving him the first-born blessings, Isaac
noticed a sweet smell emanating from Jacob. Isaac then said:
See, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that God has blessed. [1]Isaac subsequently blessed Jacob with blessings of wealth and power. Many commentators state that the 'field that God has blessed' refers to an apple field. Moreover, the Vilna Gaon explains that this incident with the blessings actually occurred on Rosh Hashanah. It is thus fitting to eat an apple, a fruit whose smell is associated with the blessings of Jacob, on the day of Rosh Hashanah, when we ourselves want blessings.
The Talmud teaches:
Abaye said 'Now that you have said that an omen is significant, at the beginning of each year, each person should accustom himself to eat gourds, fenugreek, leeks, beets and dates...'. [2]Based on this teaching, it has become a custom to eat these foods, as well as any others that symbolize good things. The Talmud also teaches:
It has been said that omens are of significance; therefore, one should make a regular habit of eating, at the beginning of the year, gourds, fenugreek, leeks, beets and dates [as these grow in abundance and are symbolic of prosperity.] [3]The foods mentioned by the Talmud are omens because the food itself symbolizes something good, or because their names connote or sound similar to words that indicate something good.
The words below are used in the blessing that is said prior to eating the food, and is known by its first two Hebrew words Yehi Ratzon (May it be your will).
May it be your will, God, our God, and the God of our forefathers...
Traditional Omens
Different customs specify the order in which these foods are to be eaten. Readers are advised to consult their Rabbi regarding the exact custom to be followed.Apple dipped in honey
... that you renew us for a good and sweet year!
Gourds (e.g., pumpkin or squash) (Aramaic: kara, meaning 'to proclaim' or 'tear')
... that our merits be proclaimed before You, and our sentences be torn up!
Fenugreek (Aramaic: rubia sounding like yirbu, meaning ' to increase')
... may our merits increase before You!
Leeks (Aramaic: karasai sounding like kares, meaning 'to cut off' or 'destroy')
... may our enemies be destroyed!
Beets (Aramaic: silka sounding like siluk, meaning 'to remove')
... may our adversaries be removed!
Dates (Aramaic: tamrai sounding like sheyitamu, meaning 'that they be consumed')
... may our enemies be consumed!
Carrots (Yiddish: mehren meaning 'increase'. Hebrew: gezer, meaning 'decree')
... may our merits increase before You!
... may the evil decree be removed.
Pomegranates
... that our merits be as numerous as [the seeds of] a pomegranate!
Fish Heads
... that we be fruitful and multiply like fish!
... that we be like a head, and not like a tail!
Head of a sheep
... that we be leaders (heads) of nations!
Fun Omens
Many people serve different 'fun' foods and invite guests to make up puns expressing their own wishes for the new year in any language they are comfortable with. The following are just some examples of 'fun' omens:Raisins and Celery
... that the new year brings a raise in salary!
Olive
... that we all live in harmony!
Grape
... that we grapple successfully with the forces of the Evil Inclination!
Fig
... that we figure for a year of bodily vigor!
Prune
... that our shortcomings be pruned!
Roasted rye
... that we rise to every occasion!
Peas
... that we may enjoy peace!
Turnip
... that although our sins be as scarlet, they will turn up white as snow!
Pumpkin
... that we resolve to pump in new energy into old causes!
Rice
... that we rise to each challenge that we face!
Banana (for French-speakers)
... that the year be a bon anno (good year)
Corn
... that the coming year be a cornucopia of blessing!
Peach
... that our accusers be impeached!
Mushroom
... that our blessings mushroom!
Squash
... that our enemies' anti-Semitic propaganda be squashed!
