Rosh Hashanah Food

What Are Traditional Rosh Hashanah Foods ?

I asked, so here's the answer.

By the way, some of the following traditional Rosh Hashanah foods are eaten by some Jewish communities and not by others. I'm just listing all the traditional Rosh Hashanah food that I know from various Jewish communities. The apple and it being dipped into honey, though, are used by all Jews on Rosh Hashanah. As you will see, the foods of Rosh Hashanah are diverse and plentiful and contain plenty of symbolisms per Rosh Hashanah food.

In terms of vegetables, the food of Rosh Hashanah will consist specifically of root vegetables.

Rosh Hashanah Food #1: Challah (or Hallah or Chalah or Halah) - Challah means "dough" in Hebrew, and refers to a specific type of bread. For Rosh Hashanah, loaves of challah are shaped in specific ways to symbolize different themes of Rosh Hashanah: prosperity, sweetness, blessings, and good omens for the upcoming year. Round-shaped challahs symbolize continuity of life, the cycle of the year, and a universal wish for a well-rounded and full year, abundant in peace, happiness, and prosperity. The round shape also represents the circle of life that we hope to contuine living in the upcoming year. Round-shaped challahs also spiral upward in the middle of the challah to demonstrate that we want our prayers to ascend to heaven. Some Jews use round challahs that are decorated with ladders, braided crowns and birds in full flight. These decorations represent the wish that the prayers will climb, and fly directly to heaven. The birds are also a reference to a verse in Isaiah (Isaiah 31:5) which states: "As birds flying, so will the L-rd defend Jerusalem". The ladders symbolize Jacob's ladder, the ladder which Jacob saw in a dream in which it began on earth and ascended to heaven and where the angels of G-d were ascending and descending on it. The following Rosh Hashanah foods also symbolize any or all of the aforementioned themes. Challah breads for Rosh Hashanah also contain raisins to enhance their sweetness and thus add emphasis to the Rosh Hashanah theme of hoping for a sweet year.
Rosh Hashanah Food #2: Apples
Rosh Hashanah Food #3: Pomegranates
Rosh Hashanah Food #4: Honey
Rosh Hashanah Food #5: Beets - identified and interpreted by some Jews as referring to the "ruviah" or "ruvia" or "ruviyah" or "ruviya" or "rubia" or "rubiah" or "rubiya" or "rubiyah" vegetable in Aramaic, meaning they feel it is the vegetable that was originally described as being the "ruviah", "ruvia", "ruviyah", "ruviya", "rubia", "rubiah", "rubiya", or "rubiyah" in Aramaic (later on, the "luviyah", "luviya", "luviah", "luvia", "lubiyah", "lubiya", "lubiah" or "lubia" was an Aramaic word that was used to describe a very similar vegetable), rather than other types of beans or peas claimed by other Jews. Mangold is another type of root vegetable that is used in place of beets if none are available.
Rosh Hashanah Food #6: Vegetables/A Specific Type Of Squash or Gourd - known in this context as either "qara" or "kera" or "k'ra" or "kra" in Hebrew and Aramaic, this specific type of squash is otherwise known as spaghetti squash or calabash. Pumpkin, another type of squash, may also be used.
Rosh Hashanah Food #7: Leeks
Rosh Hashanah Food #8: Vegetables/A Specific Type Of Green Bean - A type of green bean eaten on Rosh Hashanah is identified and interpreted by some Jews as being the "ruviah", "ruvia", "ruviyah", "ruviya", "rubia", "rubiah", "rubiya", or "rubiyah" vegetable that was described in Aramaic; later on in history, these Jews claimed that a very similar vegetable was known as either "luviyah", "luviya", "luviah", "luvia", "lubiyah", "lubiya", "lubiah" or "lubia". The Ruviyah or Luviyah vegetable in Aramaic specifically means either "green beans" or "white beans" according to the interpretation of these Jews and is from the Hebrew word "irbu" meaning "to increase". On Rosh Hashanah, we recite, "May our merits increase". The words "luviyah", "luviya", "luviah", "luvia", "lubiyah", "lubiya", "lubiah" or "lubia" which according to some Jews refer to either green beans or white beans are respectively very similar to a vegetable mentioned earlier in Jewish history that is known in Aramaic as "ruviah", "ruvia", "ruviyah", "ruviya", "rubia", "rubiah", "rubiya", or "rubiyah". The Soncino Talmud translates "ruviah", "ruvia", "ruviyah", "ruviya", "rubia", "rubiah", "rubiya", or "rubiyah" as "fenugreek", which is a tiny, bitter seed. Therefore, some Jews identify and interpret "fenugreek" as referring to the "ruviah", "ruvia", "ruviyah", "ruviya", "rubia", "rubiah", "rubiya", or "rubiyah" vegetable, rather than other types of beans or peas claimed by other Jews. String beans are mentioned by some Jews as the type of bean referred to as being the ruviyah vegetable as well as the luviyah vegetable and if none are available, they will substitute fenugreek or another type of long bean with many seeds in the pod and vice-versa.
Rosh Hashanah Food #9: Dates
Rosh Hashanah Food #10: Honey Cake
Rosh Hashanah Food #11: Vegetables/Carrots
Rosh Hashanah Food #12: All Types of Fruits - fruits are incorporated into meat recipes and fruits are also mixed together either with or without meat to form Rosh Hashanah foods such as Tzimmes, a traditional Rosh Hashanah food that is a sweet compote of fruits that may or may not include meat depending on the tzimmes recipe. On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, a new or unusual fruit that hasn't been eaten during the season or year is served. Typically eaten right after the Kiddush blessing over wine and before the Ha-Motzi blessing over bread, the new fruit may be a fresh fig, carob, mango, papaya, kiwi, quince, pomegranate, star fruit, or prickly pear.
Rosh Hashanah Food #13: Vegetables/Chick Peas - identified and interpreted by some Jews as referring to the "ruviah", "ruvia", "ruviyah", "ruviya", "rubia", "rubiah", "rubiya", or "rubiyah" vegetable in Aramaic, meaning they feel it is the bean that was originally described as being the "luviyah", "luviya", "luviah", "luvia", "lubiyah", "lubiya", "lubiah" or "lubia" in Aramaic (later on, the "luviyah", "luviya", "luviah", "luvia", "lubiyah", "lubiya", "lubiah" or "lubia" was an Aramaic word that was used to describe a very similar vegetable), rather than other types of beans or peas claimed by other Jews.
Rosh Hashanah Food #14: Vegetables/Black-Eyed Peas - identified and interpreted by some Jews as referring to the "rubiyah", "rubiya", or "rubia" vegetable in Aramaic, meaning they feel it is the bean that was originally described as being the "ruviah", "ruvia", "ruviyah", "ruviya", "rubia", "rubiah", "rubiya", or "rubiyah" in Aramaic (later on, the "luviyah", "luviya", "luviah", "luvia", "lubiyah", "lubiya", "lubiah" or "lubia" was an Aramaic word that was used to describe a very similar vegetable), rather than other types of beans or peas claimed by other Jews.
Rosh Hashanah Food #15: Cabbage
Rosh Hashanah Food #16: Vegetables/Sweet Potatoes
Rosh Hashanah Food #17: Vegetables/Swiss Chard
Rosh Hashanah Food #18: Lamb
Rosh Hashanah Food #19: Aniseeds or in other words, the aniseed bean - identified and interpreted by some Jews as referring to the "ruviah", "ruvia", "ruviyah", "ruviya", "rubia", "rubiah", "rubiya", or "rubiyah" vegetable in Aramaic, meaning they feel it is the bean that was originally described as being the "ruviah", "ruvia", "ruviyah", "ruviya", "rubia", "rubiah", "rubiya", or "rubiyah" in Aramaic (later on, the "luviyah", "luviya", "luviah", "luvia", "lubiyah", "lubiya", "lubiah" or "lubia" was an Aramaic word that was used to describe a very similar vegetable), rather than other types of beans or peas claimed by other Jews.
Rosh Hashanah Food #20: Kreplach - the word "kreplach" is from the Yiddish word "kreplekh" and is the plural form of the Yiddish word "krepl" which means "filled dumpling". Kreplach are square or triangular dumplings filled with ground meat or cheese, boiled or fried, and usually served in soup. They are essentially the Jewish version of wonton or ravioli. Kreplach are round-shaped, so their use is appropriate to the Rosh Hashanah theme of roundness symbolizing the continuity of life, among other symbolisms. Even the dough that covers the kreplach symbolizes the veiled or covered way in which G-d works his justice.
Rosh Hashanah Food #21: A Head (yes, a head!) Or A Tongue Of A Ram Or Lamb Or Sheep Or The Head Of A Fish - Rosh Hashanah in Hebrew literally means "Head of the year". Eating the head of a fish, or the head or tongue of a ram, lamb, or sheep according to one interpretation represents the idea that the Jewish people should be leaders (like the head) and be at the head of nations and not followers (like the tail) or in other words, not be like a small, downtrodden people. In other words, we should be "on top" and "not on the bottom". Another interpretation says that fish are eaten because they allude to being fruitful and multiplying as fish (spawn), with being fruitful representing another theme of Rosh Hashanah. Fish also symbolize purity, because they are associated with running water. If the head of a ram, sheep, or fish is not available, a whole roasted onion or garlic bulb is served and shared. Alos, if one does not relish the idea of a head on one's table, then a clever substitute can be a "head" of lettuce! (a good substitute for vegetarians as well!)
Rosh Hashanah Food #22: The lungs of a sheep - the lungs of a sheep are eaten for two reasons: (1) the lungs of a sheep are referred to as "reah" ("seeing" in Hebrew) so that G-d looks down upon us and has mercy, and (2) the lungs of a sheep are also eaten because a connection is again made to the Hebrew word "reah" but in the sense that we ask G-d to enlighten our eyes with Torah during the year.

Why are the aforementioned foods used for Rosh Hashanah?

The reasons for using specific Rosh Hashanah foods derive either from how certain biblical verses were interpreted or from how specific rabbinical commentaries in Jewish religious literature were interpreted. Furthermore, the Hebrew word or words for specific foods can have multiple meanings in Hebrew and so the additional meanings may also represent a theme of Rosh Hashanah. As well, certain foods are chosen for Rosh Hashanah based on plays and puns on Hebrew words. The puns are subtle and often stretch meaning and pronunciation. Certain foods are also chosen for the Rosh Hashanah festive meal based on similarities in phonetic pronounciation to specific Hebrew and/or Aramaic words or phrases which relate to any or all of the themes of Rosh Hashanah. Finally, the foods themselves can simply represent one or more themes of Rosh Hashanah, for instance, sweet foods symbolize the hope for a sweet year as well as prosperity for the upcoming year.

Is There A Common Theme Throughout Rosh Hashanah Foods ?

Sweetness is a common theme throughout Rosh Hashanah foods. Why, I might ask? Because by sweetening foods for Rosh Hashanah, Jewish people are expressing their gladness and confidence that their prayer for a sweet year will be answered. As a result, regualar potatoes are replaced with sweet potatoes, onions are caramelized, and all meats are cooked with prunes, dates, raisins, apricots, cherries, and quince. Even the challah bread that is used on Rosh Hashanah is sweetened from its regular version. Foods that are naturally bitter or sour are avoided on Rosh Hashanah. An example of this would be olives. You get the idea.

The shape of foods and dishes contain significant symbolism on Rosh Hashanah. The tradition is to use, as much as possible, round shapes which represent wholeness and continuity.

Stuffed foods are also significant on Rosh Hashanah. Stuffed foods such as stuffed cabbage or stuffed roast turkey symbolize the wish that the upcoming year will be filled with peace, prosperity, and good signs or omens.

Are There Any Prohibited Foods On Rosh Hashanah ?

In short, yup. In addition to the aforementioned bitter or sour foods that are avoided on Rosh Hashanah, the Rabbis stated that nuts should not be eaten on Rosh Hashanah for two reasons: (1) Since nuts can produce an overabundance of saliva or phlegm, it would make it more difficult to recite the prayers of the day, and (2) in Judaism, every Hebrew letter has a numerical value like Roman numerals, and so the numerical value of the Hebrew word for "nut" ("egoz" in Hebrew) is the same as that for "sin" ("chet" or "het" in Hebrew). I think not eating nuts is good in one sense because by eating nuts, I think I will get nuts. Plus, you do not want to consume sins so that they will affect your body in a negative way! By the way, please disregard the aforementioned two sentences on the basis of my attempt at being funny!

By the way, some Jewish communities will avoid eating nuts for other reasons. The shape of nuts reminds some Jewish communities of tears and so they will avoid eating nuts on Rosh Hashanah. They will also avoid eating nuts on Rosh Hashanah because nuts are associated with bitterness.

Bitter and sour foods are also avoided on Rosh Hashanah since they are not in keeping with the sweet and joyous themes of Rosh Hashanah. The exception to this rule is that if bitter and sour foods are combined with a sweet-and-sour sauce, making the food predominantly sweet, then these foods are permitted on Rosh Hashanah.

Since the color white is symbolic of purity and on Rosh Hashanah, a new beginning, some Jews will avoid eating anything that is of the color black such as black olives, dark raisins, and eggplant.

Algerian Jews will avoid eating fish on Rosh Hashanah because the Hebrew word for "fish" - Dag - is similar to the Hebrew word for "worry" - De'aga or Deaga.

Customs of Rosh Hashanah
Shofar
Traditional Greetings
Shehecheyanu or Shechecheyanu Blessing
Foods
Seder
Readings From Scripture
Liturgical Poems - Piyutim
Tashlich - Tashlikh - Tashlik
Wearing White

To go to the Rosh Hashanah home page, just click the link below:

Rosh Hashanah
Click To E-Mail Us Here!
Tell A Friend About Our Jewish Holidays / Passover Website!
Bookmark Our Jewish Holidays / Passover Website!
Netscape Users: Press Ctrl + d to bookmark our Jewish Holidays / Passover Website!
Mac Users: Press Apple + d to bookmark our Jewish Holidays / Passover Website!