Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana

Transcription

1 Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana CREATED BY: National Jewish Outreach Program

2 Table of Contents The Names of Rosh Hashana... 2 Preparing for Rosh Hashana... 3 Holiday Greetings... 4 Birthday of the World... 5 Meaningful Foods... 6 Levana Kirschenbaum s Rosh Hashana Recipes... 8 Insights into the Torah Reading Rosh Hashana Favorites The Stirring Sounds of the Shofar Shofar Facts Prayers of the Day Tashlich: Casting Away Sins Tashlich: A Prayer Game Corner How to Make Rosh Hashana Meaningful for Kids A Rosh Hashana Parable The Next Step Susie Fishbein s Honey Cake Recipe Game Answer Key Glossary Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana

3 WELCOME TO JEWISH TREATS Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana Jewish Treats is delighted to introduce our new ebook: Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana - your online resource for the Jewish New Year. This ebook includes a little of everything. Inside you will discover the significance of pomegranates, the spiritual sounds of the shofar and the secrets of casting away sins. We ve included some delicious recipes, fascinating facts, and lots of family fun, as well! Click here for a message from our Director. Sing your way into Rosh Hashana! Enjoy Jewish Treats Soul Bigger (The Rosh Hashana Song) Credits Founder: Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Edited By: Sarah Rochel Hewitt Content: Sarah Rochel Hewitt Social Media: Susanne Goldstone Rosenhouse Graphic Design: Van Huynh, Gilly Rosenthol Contributors: Rabbi Avrohom M. Alter, Esti Berkowitz, Rabbi Yonah Bookstein, Susie Fishbein, Levana Kirshenbaum From everyone at NJOP and Jewish Treats, we wish you a sweet and happy New Year! Dedicated to my Rav and my friend Rabbi Yitzchak Rosenbaum, Who has helped so many of his fellow Jews find their way to becoming Frum Jews with his tireless patience for all. We wish him and his Rebbitzen much mazal and many simchas when they move to Eretz Yisrael. Yitzchak, you will be missed so very much. With love and admiration, your student, and friend, Andy Siegel Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 1

4 The Names of Rosh Hashana The Names of Rosh Hashana More Than Just a New Year s Celebration Most everyone refers to Rosh Hashana as the Jewish New Year. Indeed that is the best known aspect of the holiday. But being the new year is actually only a secondary facet of this joyful holiday. There are several names for the first of Tishrei, each of which reflects a different aspect of the holiday. In the Torah, the day is called Yom Teruah, referring to the staccato sound blown on the shofar. The Teruah of the shofar serves as a call to attention to the Jewish people, alerting them that this day is Yom Hadin, the Day of Judgment. This first of Tishrei is the Day of Judgment because it is Yom Hazikaron, the day on which God looks back and remembers our deeds, individually, collectively and historically (a record of over 3,000 years of Jewish history). While remembering our deeds, God is able to judge our actions and our growth as people. Why is the first of Tishrei known as Yom Hazikaron? Because it is the anniversary of the creation of the world (Yom Harat Olam--see page 7). Since the annual cycle is now closing, it is the perfect time for reflection and judgment. This new beginning allows the people to enter the new year with a clean slate. And since the old and the new years are seamless, today is also Rosh Hashana, the head of the year, when we begin the new calendar year (e.g. from 5771 to 5772). Yom Teruah means The Day of the Sounding (of the Shofar). Yom Hadin means The Day of Judgment. Yom Hazikaron means The Day of Remembering. Yom Harat Olam means The Day of the Birth of the World. Rosh Hashana means Head of the Year. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 2

5 Preparing for Rosh Hashana Preparing for Rosh Hashana Imagine receiving a notice from the IRS that you are going to be audited in one month. You become frantic. After all, receipts and credit slips are scattered in drawers and piles throughout the house. Now you have only a month to find them. The beginning of the month of Elul marks the one month notice until the Divine audit is to take place on Rosh Hashana. Throughout the month of Elul, Jews search for every receipt and credit slip left by their behavior. Did I belittle the secretary who couldn t remember my name? Did I borrow $20 and forget to return it? Last week, I did help my elderly neighbor carry in her groceries. Did I? Elul is the time to look back over the past year, sort out our strengths and weaknesses, and see what impact our deeds have had. Like sorting the receipts, we can place our actions into little piles: wrong to God, our fellow humans or even ourselves, and good to God, our fellow humans or ourselves. Sometimes an action may fall into several categories. Reviewing our behavior is, according to the medieval scholar Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides/Rambam), the first step in the teshuva (repentance) process. The Jewish view of repentance goes much further than mere regret. Teshuva is a proactive process that recognizes our fallibility and our ability to change. People err. The Bible is full of people messing up. What is important, however, is that one learn from his/ her mistakes. The first step in setting things straight is recognizing the problem and ceasing the incorrect behavior. For many, recognizing a negative behavior is painfully difficult. After all, it s so easy to justify our actions -- Well, he shouldn t have cut me off, I had every right to yell at him! The government already gets enough money, I don t have to declare this on my taxes! Hey, so what if I told them that I saw her out late last night? Everybody knows she s a real partier! But rationalizations don t render the actions correct, they only make the rationalizers feel better about their behavior. Admitting that an action was wrong, or that it may have hurt someone, takes courage and honesty. Stopping the behavior is an even greater challenge. While people should really strive to improve themselves throughout the year, as the month of Elul begins and the shofar is sounded*, we are reminded that there is just one month left. Thirty days remain to check one s balance and settle old accounts. By using Elul to prepare, one is able to face the Divine audit on Rosh Hashana with clarity and confidence, knowing that one has moved toward his/her spiritual goal and has made a better connection with the power of the day, and with God. * It is customary for the shofar to be sounded in the synagogue at every morning service throughout the month of Elul, except for Shabbat and the day before Rosh Hashana Maimonides Four Steps of Teshuva 1. Recognize and discontinue the improper action. 2. Verbally confess the action, thus giving the action a concrete form in your own mind. 3. Regret the action. Evaluate the negative impact this action may have had on yourself or on others. 4. Determine never to repeat the action. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 3

6 Holiday Greetings Holiday Greetings The standard pre-rosh Hashana greeting of K tiva va chatima tova ( May you be written and sealed for good ) is deduced from a Talmudic discussion concerning the three heavenly books that are opened during the High Holidays. Rabbi Jochanan (as quoted by Rabbi Kruspedai) clarified that on Rosh Hashana three Divine books are opened. There is a book for the completely wicked, a book for the completely righteous and a book for those in the middle. According to Rabbi Avin, the existence of these books is alluded to in Psalms 69:29: Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. According to Rabbi Nahman ben Isaac, Moses actually refers to the book in Exodus 32:32:...blot me, I pray You, out of Your book which You have written (Rosh Hashana 16b). Both of the proof-texts brought in the Talmud appear to refer only to a Book of the Righteous. Since tradition has it that the world is balanced between extremes (prophecy was balanced by idolatry, Moses was balanced by Bilaam), a Book of the Wicked must also exist. This, of course, leaves a gap for those who are neither completely righteous nor completely wicked...in other words, the majority of humanity. Thus, it could only be assumed that there is a third book. Rabbi Kruspedai further explains that on the first night of Rosh Hashana the completely righteous and the completely wicked are immediately written into their respective books. But, the judgment of the intermediate group is written, but not finalized, from the New Year till the Day of Atonement [when it is sealed]. Because of the suspended status of most people between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, after the first night of Rosh Hashana the greeting to friends is altered to G mar chatima tova ( May your conclusion be sealed for good ). Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 4

7 Birthday of the World Birthday of The world According to Jewish tradition, the world ages by one year each Rosh Hashana and is now in its 57th century. This claim easily stirs up sharp debate. How, it is often asked, can one say that the world is less than 5,800 years old when carbon dating proves that certain fossils are millions of years old? Science and religion often seem in conflict with one another, but only at first glance. While Rosh Hashana is considered the first day of the year, it is actually only the beginning of the counting of the years of the world. The Torah recounts that it took six days to create the world, and on the sixth day God created the human being. According to the Midrash, until Adam was formed, the world was static. Only after Adam was created and prayed for rain, did the world come to life. Think of it like conception and birth. The world was conceived six days before Rosh Hashana, which was Day One of Creation. The next five days were a gestational period, when the world was formed and developed. Birth, the completion of the world, only occurred on the sixth day with the introduction of Adam. More than just the world came to life with the creation of Adam, the world acquired time then as well. Prior to Adam, no one noted when the sun rose or set, or the moon waxed and waned or whether there were seasons. No one can say with certainty how long the days of creation were because there were no human beings to mark the beginning and end of a day. Days turned into weeks, weeks to months and months to years. The natural seasons changed and the apples were once again full on the trees. The first of Tishrei, Adam s birthday, thus became the new year in the cyclical count of years as well as the new year for the accounting for tithing produce. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 5

8 Meaningful foods Meaningful Foods Kiddush, sanctification, is the recitation pronounced over wine and/or grape juice through which Jews proclaim the uniqueness of the holidays and Shabbat. The formula on the eve of a holiday is composed of two blessings: one over the wine and the other over the holiness of the day. Following Kiddush, the blessing over bread is recited over two round challahs. The round shape, which is distinct for the holiday as opposed to the traditional braided challah of Shabbat, is symbolic on several levels. First, the round shape represents the circle of life, which is apropos for the Day of Judgment. Additionally, the circle recalls the cycle of the year, since one year moves immediately into the next. Finally, the round challahs are considered symbolic of royalty, reminding one of a crown. Just as it is common to wish our friends, family and neighbors L shana tova u metuka (May you have a good and sweet year), so too, the challahs served on Rosh Hashana are often made with additional honey or sugar to make them sweeter. Raisins are often added as well. One of the best known and most enjoyable customs of Rosh Hashana is the addition of symbolic foods at the beginning of the evening meal. This custom is recorded in the Talmud: Said Abaye: Since you hold that symbols are meaningful, every man should make it a habit on Rosh Hashana to eat pumpkin, fenugreek, leek, beet and dates (Kritot 6a). While these foods are noted as being connected to fertility, abundance and quick growth, they are also words with double meanings, for instance, the Hebrew word for dates is t marim, which is related to the Hebrew word la toom, meaning to consume. Because Rosh Hashana is the Day of Judgment for all nations, the sages interpreted their inclusion on the Rosh Hashana menu as a means of asking God to help the Children of Israel consume their enemies. APPLES AND HONEY A slice of apple is dipped in honey, and the blessing for the fruit of the tree is recited: Baruch Ah tah Ah doh nai, Eh lo hay nu Melech Ha olam, bo ray p ree ha etz. Blessed are You Lord, our God, Ruler of the world, Creator of the fruit of the tree. Take a bite and then recite the following brief prayer: May it be Your will, Lord, our God and the God of our forefathers, that You renew for us a good and sweet year. DATES T marim--from the word la toom, to consume May it be Your will, Lord, our God and the God of our forefathers, that our enemies be consumed. Some people eat the date first because it is one of the fruits for which the Land of Israel is known. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 6

9 Meaningful Foods SQUASH Kara--from the word likroah, to tear May it be Your will, Lord, our God and the God of our forefathers, that the decree of our sentence be torn asunder; and may our merits be proclaimed before You. BLACK-EYED PEAS Rubia--from the word l harboht, to increase CARROTS Merrin--from the Yiddish word more May it be Your will, Lord, our God and the God of our forefathers, that our merits increase. POMEGRANATES It is said that each pomegranate has 613 seeds, representing the 613 commandments of the Torah. May it be Your will, Lord, our God and the God of our forefathers, that our merits be as plentiful as the seeds of a pomegranate. HEAD OF A SHEEP/FISH Some have a custom to have the head of a sheep or a fish on the table and to say: May it be Your will, Lord, our God and the God of our forefathers, that we be as the head and not as the tail. FISH A fish is considered to be a symbol of fertility and blessing. May it be Your will, Lord, our God and the God of our forefathers, that we be fruitful and multiply like fish. NUTS On Rosh Hashana, nuts are not eaten since the numeric value of the word for nut, egoz, is equivalent to the numeric value for the word for sin, chet. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 7

10 Levana Kirschenbaum s Rosh Hashana Recipes Levana Kirschenbaum s Rosh hashana recipes GF Gluten-Free GFA Gluten-Free Adaptable P Passover Carrot Ginger Soup Gf 1/3 cup olive oil 2 large red onions, quartered 2-inch piece ginger, grated 1 tablespoon curry, a little more if you like it hotter 3 large carrots, grated (about 4 cups packed) 1/4 cup maple syrup 3 quarts (12 cups) water 1/2 cup millet (or other quick-cooking grain: steel-cut oats, teff, amaranth, etc.) 1 teaspoon allspice 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 tablespoon orange zest Salt to taste Freshly ground pepper to taste Starring the humble carrot, with all the flavorings that complement it. Don t be afraid of serving it to guests--it doesn t taste nearly as modest as the ingredient list reads. Heat the oil in heavy pot. In a food processor, coarsely grind the onions and add to the hot oil. Reduce the flame to medium and fry, stirring occasionally until very dark brown. This step will take about 20 minutes. Add the ginger and curry and cook, stirring 2 more minutes. Add all but last ingredient. Bring to a boil. Reduce the flame to medium and cook covered for 30 minutes. Adjust the texture and seasonings. Makes a dozen ample servings. The Whole Foods Kosher Kitchen glorious meals pure and simple Lévana Kirschenbaum with Lisa R. Young, PhD, RD foreword by Dr. Tania Dempsey photographs by Meir Pliskin Lévana Kirschenbaum was co-owner of Levana Restaurant on Manhattan s Upper West Side (alas, recently closed after thirty two years), and the pioneer in kosher upscale dining. She is a cooking teacher and cookbook author, and gets countless devoted fans for her fearless, practical and nutritious approach to cooking. She gives weekly cooking demos and gives cooking demo engagements around the country. She has published Levana s Table: Kosher Cooking for Everyone, Levana Cooks Dairy-Free! and a book-dvd set based on her demo series called In Short Order. She has just published her latest cookbook: The Whole Foods Kosher Kitchen: Glorious Meals Pure and Simple. She is launching a line of all-natural spelt desserts, called, what else, Lévana. Her weekly cooking demos take place at her apartment on Manhattan s Upper West Side: Get ready for dinner and a show! Go onto her website to find out more about her demos, cookbooks, desserts, and entertaining stories at Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 8

11 Levana Kirschenbaum s Rosh Hashana Recipes Date Power Bars GfA, P Dates have a unique texture, and people are often skeptical about eating them. These bars make the controversial dates invisible, and are not only a delicious way of including them in the simanim (and making dates kidfriendly), but they are packed with nutrients. In fact, if you have ever taken the time to read the ingredient list in some commercial brands of granola bars, they are not the healthy snacks they are cracked up to be. By contrast, just look at this lineup of flavors! They keep very well in a tin or in the freezer--no need to wipe them all out, so behave please! In a food processor, process the dates and agave until a perfectly smooth paste forms. 4 cups soft and plump pitted dates, packed (about 1 1/2 pounds) 1/2 cup agave syrup 1 cup tahini (sesame paste) 1 cup flax meal (health food stores) 3 4 cups crunchy granola (page 231 in my cookbook, or settle for a good store-bought crunchy brand), finely crumbled Transfer to a bowl and add all but last ingredient. Combine thoroughly (it will be sticky, be patient). Press the mixture firmly into a greased cookie sheet, about 1/2 inch high. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into 1-inch x 3-inch bars. Store refrigerated in airtight tins. Makes about 5 dozen. Variations: Substitute other dry fruit for the dates Substitute chopped toasted nuts for the granola, in equal amounts Throw in 2 cups unsweetened grated coconut Substitute other ground seed or nut flour for the flax meal Substitute any nut butter for the tahini Salmon in Pomegranate Sweet-and-Sour Sauce Gf, P 1 whole side salmon, no skin, no bones, about 3 pounds, trimmed 1 large red onion, sliced very thin (use the food processor) 1/4 cup olive oil 1 cup pomegranate juice 1/4 cup unfiltered apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons tomato paste Salt and pepper to taste 1 teaspoon turmeric Sweet-and-sour combinations work beautifully with salmon. The onions caramelize and contribute a sweet counterpoint to the vinegar. Another quick and delicious dish, just the way I like it one pan, one step. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Place the salmon in a pan just large enough to accommodate the fish in one layer. Scatter the onions on top and on the sides of the fish. Mix the oil, juice, vinegar, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and turmeric in a bowl, and pour over the fish. Cook about 20 minutes, or a tiny bit more until the fish flakes easily and the liquids thicken. Serve hot or at room temperature. Makes 8 main course servings or a dozen or more first course servings. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 9

12 Insights into the Torah Reading: The Story of Isaac Insights into the Torah Reading TORAH READING SUMMARY (DAY ONE): (Genesis 21:1-34) On the first day of Rosh Hashana, the Torah reading relates the story of the miraculous birth of Isaac: At the time of Isaac s birth, Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90. As commanded by God, Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old. As Isaac grew older, Sarah noticed that Ishmael (Abraham s son with Sarah s handmaid Hagar) played mockingly with Isaac. The Midrash (legend) explains that the Hebrew word for mocking, mitzachek, often connotes sexual immorality, war games and idolatry. Sarah saw that Isaac s half-brother, who was 13 years his senior, was corrupting her child, so she went to Abraham and demanded that he banish Ishmael from their home. When Abraham hesitated, God instructed Abraham to do as Sarah said. Additionally, God promised Abraham that while his seed would come to greatness through Isaac, Ishmael and his descendants would also come to be a great nation. The next morning, Hagar and Ishmael departed from the camp and wandered in the wilderness. While they had left with provisions, they soon ran out of water. God responded to Hagar s cries and an angel appeared and comforted her. Hagar then noticed a nearby well. After recovering from their thirst, they remained in the wilderness, where Ishmael thrived. TORAH READING SUMMARY (DAY TWO): (Genesis 22:1-24) And it happened after these things that God tested Abraham and said to him, Abraham. And he replied, Here I am. And [God] said, Please take your son, your only one, whom you love--isaac--and get yourself to the land of Moriah. Bring him up there for an offering, upon one of the mountains which I shall indicate to you. They arose early in the morning, and Abraham, Isaac and two servants headed off toward Moriah. On the third day, they reached Mount Moriah, and father and son began their ascent to the top. Isaac questioned his father about the fact that they had fire and wood with them, but no lamb to sacrifice. Abraham replied, God will seek out for himself the lamb for the offering, my son. They continued their ascent together in silence. The Midrash notes that this tells us that Isaac now understood their true destination and had accepted his fate. At the top of the mountain, Abraham built an altar, arranged the wood and bound Isaac, placing him on top of the altar. Once Abraham held the knife in his hand, ready to do as he had been commanded, an angel of God called out to him: Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, nor do anything to him, for now I know that you are a Godfearing man, since you have not withheld your son, your only one, from Me. Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thickets nearby. This ram was sacrificed to God instead of Isaac. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 10

13 Rosh Hashana Favorites Rosh Hashana Favorites We asked the Jewish Treats Facebook Fans followers to share their thoughts on Rosh Hashana! WE ASKED: WHAT IS YOUR FAvorite aspect of rosh hashana? My favorite part is sharing the honey and apples [Also,] to always remember that even when times are sad or difficult, there is always some sweetness in life and in having faith in God. O.N.P. The blowing of the shofar which brings us closer to Hashem! H.K. My favorite aspect is getting to go home and spend time with family and eat mom s great homemade Jewish cooking! C.K. Love the holiness and enjoy being with family and friends. N.S.W. The Avinu Malkeinu is so powerful I love it. Also plenty of apples and honey. N.B. My favorite aspect of Rosh Hashana is the sense of renewal it brings. To me, it means a fresh start, as does Yom Kippur, which gives me a sense of cleansing my soul as I ask forgiveness of all the people whom I may have hurt throughout the year. D.S. The apples and honey. They make the New Year SO sweet. J.E. Making a beautiful local organic harvest meal for family! L.B. WE ASKED: WHAT do you hope to do differently in the year to come? I am going to put more emphasis on my standing in relation to others, working harder toward dialogue. Like Martin Buber said relation is reciprocity. M.S. I hope to live everyday as sweetly as the next. J.A. I hope to get more involved in the small Jewish community of Estero. C.K. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 11

14 The Stirring Sounds of the Shofar The Stirring Sounds of the Shofar The Shofar Service Hearing the sound of the shofar on both days of Rosh Hashana is the primary mitzvah (obligation) of every adult Jew (unless the first day falls on Shabbat, the only day the shofar is not sounded). The shofar may be made from the horn of a kosher animal, although traditionally a ram s horn is used. In order to fulfill the mitzvah of hearing the shofar, one must hear a minimum of 30 shofar blasts in the specific order set by the sages. In most congregations, however, a total of 100 shofar blasts are sounded at the service. During the sounding of the shofar, it is important that the congregation remain silent, so that everyone may focus properly and hear all the sounds. The Torah refers to the sounding of the shofar as a teruah, but it does not specifically describe the sound. The sages debated (Talmud Rosh Hashana 33b) whether it is a deep sigh or a short piercing cry. To compromise on the different opinions of the sages, three different sounds are blown upon the shofar. The combination of sounds represents the depths of emotion that standing before the King of Kings should evoke within a person. The tekiah, which is a strong solid blast, is like the blast of the trumpet at a king s coronation, reminding us that God is the King of Kings. In the Talmud (Berachot 28b), Rabbi Eliezer states famously: Know before Whom you stand. This is the purpose of the tekiah, to remind us that we are standing before God, our Creator, Who loves us and judges us with mercy. The shevarim, on the other hand, is composed of three medium blasts, like deep sighs or gentle crying. As we recognize all that God does for the world, and all that we potentially could be doing, how could we not sigh in acknowledgment of the inadequacies of our own lives and the insolence of our constant complaints. The teruah, nine short sharp blasts, reminiscent of the sound of sobbing, is the recognition that the year is coming to a close, and that the time for teshuvah (repentance) is fleeting. This is the feeling one might have when recognizing all of the missed opportunities to do things in a better way. Crying, the sounds of which the shofar imitates, is often critical in the process of repentance. The rabbis tell us that the gates of heaven are never closed to tears, and through our tears we can try to wash away that which has passed. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 12

15 Shofar Facts Shofar Facts The different notes of the shofar are known as tekiot. Although a ram s horn is preferable, the horn need only come from a kosher animal. (If one has absolutely no other options, however, one may use the horn of a non-kosher animal, but cannot recite the blessings over hearing the tekiot.) The horns of a cow are solid bone and are thus invalid for the making of a shofar. The same is true of antlers. Shofars are shaped (straightened or bent) by applying heat. The outside of a shofar may be engraved for decoration. One may not elongate a shofar by adding material (even natural material taken from a horn) to the shofar. If the shofar is too long, one may cut it. Gold or silver or any other foreign material, may not be placed near either end of the shofar. If the weight of the metal does not alter the sound, however, metal may be used to decorate the outside surface of the shofar. Hearing the shofar is one of the few acts that can be fulfilled with a stolen instrument. One may use a stolen shofar because, according to Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides, Rambam), the actual mitzvah is to hear the sound, and sound cannot be stolen. (A hypothetical situation, one would hope, since stealing is forbidden.) Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 13

16 Prayers of the Day Prayers of The day The Themes of Rosh Hashana The Amidah of Mussaf, the silent prayer of the additional service that follows the Torah reading, emphasizes the three main themes of Rosh Hashana: Kingship, Remembrance and Shofar. KINGSHIP: The blessing of Kingship is introduced with Aleinu, a prayer that is actually recited at the conclusion of every daily prayer service. Aleinu perfectly summarizes what Kingship is all about. It begins with: It is our obligation to praise the Master of all, to ascribe greatness to the Creator of the beginning...but we bend our knees, bow and acknowledge our thanks before the King who reigns over kings... Beyond acknowledging that God is the King of Kings, Aleinu asserts the importance of the Jewish nation recognizing not only His sovereignty over them, but their need to place their trust in Him. SHOFAR: Shofar is a description of the glorious scene on Mount Sinai on the day God gave the Torah, when the sound of the shofar became increasingly strong, Moses would speak and God would respond with a voice. And it is said, And the entire people saw the sounds and the flames and the sound of the shofar and the smoking mountain, and the people saw and trembled and stood from afar (Exodus 19:19, 20:15). The section of the Shofar concludes with a blessing that beseeches God to both sound the great blast of the shofar that will announce the final redemption, and to hear the sound of the shofar blown by the Children of Israel on this Rosh Hashana. REMEMBRANCE: Remembrance reminds us that today is the Day of Judgment and that on this day God is judging every person s actions and weighing each person s future. The prayers for Remembrance focus on God s ability to truly remember, to look at the life of a person or a nation, and to understand all the motivations and thoughts that led a person to his/her decisions and to justly reward or punish them for their actions. In other words, nothing gets past God! Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 14

17 Prayers of the Day Prayers of The day Avinu Malkeinu No prayer so thoroughly captures the Jewish people s dual relationship with God as Avinu Malkeinu, Our Father, Our King. The formula of this prayer, which has been expanded throughout the centuries to include a total of 44 verses, is based on the prayer that Rabbi Akiva, one of the greatest Talmudic sages, recited during a drought. After the community s prayers had brought no relief, Rabbi Akiva called out to God, Our Father, Our King, we have no king but You. Our Father, Our King, for Your sake have mercy upon us! The rains immediately began to fall. By addressing God as both Father and King, we are directing our prayers through two different venues. From a father, one expects mercy, love and forgiveness. A father looks at his child and sees only that child, that special individual, his own flesh and blood, and instinctively feels mercy for the child. Certainly we wish to address our petitions to God s aspect of mercy on the Day of Judgment. On the other hand, a king controls the fate of his subjects. He rules with judgment and justice. Therefore, we must also address our prayers to this aspect of God during Rosh Hashana (and through Yom Kippur). After all, this is the time that God sits with His books of judgment open before Him. By referring to God as our King, we remind ourselves that while He loves us as a father, we must also be in awe of His greatness. Our Father, our King, be gracious with us and answer us, though we have no worthy deeds; treat us with charity and kindness, and save us. Avinu Malkeinu chaneinu va aneinu, kee ain banu ma a seem, ah say eemanu tzedaka va chesed v hoshee einu. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 15

18 Tashlich: Casting Away Sins Tashlich Casting Away Sins More Than Bread Crumbs The Rosh Hashana tashlich ceremony is a tradition that is held dear throughout the many diverse Jewish communities. Tashlich literally translates as You will throw. But what, exactly, is it? What? Tashlich is meant to be a symbolic physical representation of casting away one s sins. Along with a selection of Psalms and supplications, Micah 7:18-20 is repeatedly recited: Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and forgiving transgression to the remainder of His heritage. He retains not His anger forever, because He delights in kindness. He will again have mercy on us. He will suppress our iniquities; yes, You will cast our sins into the depth of the sea. When? Tashlich is usually performed in the late afternoon on the first day of Rosh Hashana. However, if one is unable to do tashlich at that time, the ceremony may be performed until Hoshana Raba. If the first day of Rosh Hashana is on Shabbat, Ashkenazim wait until the second day. Although descriptions of tashlich often include the casting of bread crumbs, feeding wild animals is prohibited on Shabbat and the holidays. The casting of bread is a poetic physical expression of tashlich, but is not necessary to the ceremony. This custom may have evolved from the Chassidic custom of intentionally shaking off crumbs to represent casting away sins. Where? The reference in Micah to the depth of the sea appears to be the source for the custom of reciting tashlich next to a body of water, such as a lake or a river (or an ocean, of course) in which fish live. As long as one can see the water, even from a distance (even by climbing to the rooftop of a building), one may recite tashlich. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 16

19 Tashlich: A Prayer A Tashlich PRAYER by Rabbi Yonah Bookstein King David writes in Psalms, "Out of the narrows of distress I called upon God, God answered me with liberation" (118:5). With these words we introduce the blowing of the shofar on Rosh Hashana. With these same words we metaphorically cast our sins, represented by bread crumbs, into fresh waters during tashlich. Tashlich is generally performed in the afternoon on the first day of Rosh Hashana. However, tashlich can still be performed all the way until Hoshanah Raba, which is according to Kabbalah, the last opportunity for repentance. The custom of tashlich is based on the words of the prophet Micah, "And You shall cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (7:19) and is practiced in most Ashkenazi and Sephardic communities around the world. Why do tashlich? Tashlich is a way to unlock one of the spiritual missions of Rosh Hashana--praying for our sins to be washed away and for God to redeem the Jewish people. The Me am Loaz, an 18th century Ladino commentary, points out that King David wrote Out of the narrows... after being delivered from death. Just as King David did not despair of redemption, we are not to give up hope even in the midst of the most terrible distress. When I perform tashlich, standing by living water, in the presence of God, I pour out my heart and ask God to wash away the barriers to spiritual and personal growth. I ask God to liberate me from all the bad traits and habits that got me into trouble this past year--those things which lead me away from my true mission in life. No doubt, we all have something from this last year that we need God s help to cleanse. After I meditate on that for a while, I repeat once more the words of King David, Out of the narrows of distress I called upon God, God answered me with liberation. Rabbi Yonah Bookstein is a leading voice of the Next Generation of American Jewry. He is an internationally recognized leader in Jewish innovation, with 25 years experience in the United States, Israel, and Europe. He is an Oxford educated Fulbright Fellow, past member of the Forward 50, a 2009 Jewish Community Hero contest winner and former Director of the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation in Poland. Rabbi Yonah is director of JConnect & Jewlicious, lives in Los Angeles with his wife Rachel, Co-Director of Jewlicious Festivals, and their four fabulous children. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 17

20 Rosh Hashana Crossword Game CORNER Rosh Hashana crossword puzzle *Answers on page Please do not complete this puzzle on Shabbat or Festival Days. Across 2. Rosh Hashana is the beginning of the 5. Shape of challahs on Rosh Hashana 6. Rosh Hashana is the Day of 8. The Hebrew word for repentence 10. Symbol of a sweet new year 11. The blasts on the shofar are known as 12. Biblical character whose birth is described on Rosh Hashana Down 1. Prayer over wine 3. Famous fruit eaten on Rosh Hashana 4. The Hebrew word for head 7. The ceremony of casting one s sins into the water 9. We blow the Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 18

21 Rosh Hashana Word Search Rosh Hashana WORD SEARCH *Answers on page 26 r e v s r l l o a e e r s t a m p a e m g t t v h r e d a t e s e k a d e a n r e r a r n a n h v a e v u i e t a a a u a n a h s a h h s o r h r a v u g e h k i n g m i a i e t o h a i k e t m e t u k a t a l t m o s r e o s k a s u e o v k t a e a e s k l k p a m t k m p r a y e r h a Words can be found vertically, horizontally, diagonally and, in some cases, may be spelled backwards. Dates Elul King Metuka Pomegranate Prayer Ram Rosh Hashana Shevarim Tekiah Teruah Tova Please do not complete this puzzle on Shabbat or Festival Days. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 19

22 How to Make Rosh Hashana Meaningful For kids How to Make Rosh Hashana Meaningful for Kids Rosh Hashana is just around the corner, and parents everywhere are busy making plans and setting menus for this yearly family celebration. Amidst all of these preparations, it is easy for families to lose site of the meaning of Rosh Hashana. Here are three ways that parents can help their children actualize the meaning of Rosh Hashana: The power of giving tzedaka (charitable donation) is one of the ways that helps us repent and helps ensure that our prayers are answered on Rosh Hashana. The entire family can be involved in selecting a single charity. Here are some options: Think about a family that might not have the financial resources to shop for a special Rosh Hashana meal, or perhaps there is a family that is unable to prepare a meal nor be in synagogue because they have to spend Rosh Hashana in the hospital. The significance of asking for forgiveness is very powerful. It is not easy to remember all of the things we need to ask forgiveness for, and it is not easy to ask forgiveness from somebody. Have everybody think about forgiveness in another way with a forgiveness box. Take an empty shoe box and make a slit in the top cover. Put this box in a place where the entire family can see it and in the days leading up to Rosh Hashana, each member of the family can add notes about things for which they might need to ask forgiveness (fighting with sibling, parent yelling at one child when angry at another). Small children can make simple pictures to express their feelings. At the Rosh Hashana meal, the box can be opened and shared (anonymously) with the entire family. There are so many fantastic foods that symbolize our desire to have a sweet new year. Since kids love to bake, pick a recipe for Honey Cake (see page 25) and make it together. In honor of the custom of dipping an apple in honey for a sweet new year, you can also go apple picking as a family, thus bringing a truly special touch to your Rosh Hashana meal. Enjoy this time with your children and may you all have a Shana Tova! Esti Berkowitz blogs at primetimeparenting.com, a blog that was started to share how she found kosher food, a husband and had children after 35. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 20

23 A Rosh Hashana Parable A Rosh Hashana Parable The Teacup by Rabbi Avrohom M. Alter Behold, I set before you today, a blessing and a curse God announces to the Jewish people in Deuteronomy (11:26). So where is the blessing already? Why does it so often seem to be the opposite? Challenges, trials, tribulations, anxiety and yes pain and suffering! The answer perhaps is that we need to readjust our perspective-- to gaze anew, from a fresh viewpoint, that which He bestows upon us--to trust, to understand, and YES, to KNOW, that all that He bequeaths (no matter how it feels) is ultimately for our good, even when we search for understanding! Perhaps the following story will help us better understand: There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twentyfifth wedding anniversary. One day in this charming little shop they saw a lovely teacup. May we see that? they asked, We ve never seen one quite so beautiful. As the lady handed the cup to them, it suddenly began to speak. You don t understand, the teacup said. I haven t always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red, and I was clay. My master took me, rolled me, and patted me over and over. I yelled out, Let me alone! But he only smiled. Not yet, he said. Then I was placed on a spinning wheel, the teacup continued, and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I m getting dizzy! I screamed. But the master only nodded and said again, Not yet. Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me. I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and could read his lips as he shook his head saying, Not yet. Finally the door opened. He put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. There, that s better, I said. Then he brushed me and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would choke. Stop it, stop it! I cried, but he only nodded and said, Not yet. Then suddenly he put me back into the oven. This time, however, it was twice as hot, and I was sure I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening, nodding his head saying, Not yet. At this point I knew there wasn t any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. Then, at the last moment, the door opened, he took me out and placed me on the shelf. An hour later he handed me a mirror. I couldn t believe it was me. It s beautiful. I m beautiful. I want you to remember, then, he said, I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you would have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but had I stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn t put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were horrible when I painted you all over, but if I hadn t done that, you would have never hardened. You would not have had any color in your life. And if I hadn t put you back in that second oven, you wouldn t have survived for very long. You wouldn t have been sufficiently durable. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you. The moral of this story: God knows what He s doing for all of us. He is the potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and shape us, so that we may be fashioned into a flawless object, so we can fulfill His perfect will. Being God s vessel is ultimately the best, most perfect blessing for us all! Rabbi Avrohom M. Alter is a rabbi at the Yeshiva Migdal Torah - The Jewish Learning Center in Chicago, Il. This article originally appeared in National Jewish Outreach Program s Bereshith, In The Beginning, a newsletter for Beginners by Beginners. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 21

24 The Next Step The Next STEP THE TEN DAYS OF REPENTANCE On Rosh Hashana, God judges the world (and all the people in the world), but their fates are not sealed until ten days later, on Yom Kippur. It is during these ten days that we must present a compelling case of our worthiness to the heavenly court. These ten days that start on Rosh Hashana and conclude on Yom Kippur are known as the Aseret Y mei Teshuva, Ten Days of Repentance. During this time, people make a special effort to make amends both with their fellow humans and with God. Jewish tradition teaches that there are three critical tools to make our appeal successful: Teshuva, Tefila, U Tzedaka (Repentance, Prayer and Charity). Teshuva, repentance, is the major focus of the High Holiday season both before and after Rosh Hashana. During the Ten Days of Repentance, it is customary to scrutinize one s actions and to review the process of teshuva that was begun during Elul, the month preceding Rosh Hashana. Many people make extra efforts at self-improvement during the Ten Days. Tefila, prayer, is always an important element in Jewish life, but there is no time in the Jewish calendar that God is more available than during the beginning days of Tishrei. Jewish prayer is a complex, multi-layered activity. The sages refer to prayer as avodah, service, the same term used to describe the sacrificial service in the Holy Temple. However, since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E., prayer has become our primary means of connecting with God. But avodah also means work--giving something of ourselves to God. But what benefit could God derive from our prayers? How do our prayers serve the Divine? The Hebrew word l hitpallel means to pray. The root of this Hebrew word, pallel, actually means to judge, clarify, differentiate or decide. In the reflexive form of the word-- l hitpallel, the subject acts upon him/herself. Prayer, therefore, is about self-definition and establishing some level of personal inner clarity. During prayer, one is able to clarify his/her relationship with God and with the world, thus opening a clearer channel of communication with the Divine. Tzedaka, charity, is an additional method one may use to seek to revise or void a negative verdict. Isn t that bribing God? No. The lifelong goal of the human being is to move closer to God. While Judaism has mandated laws about giving charity, these laws are meant to develop a person s sensitivity to those in need. During the Ten Days, when we seek to show God that we have grown and are striving to be better, giving charity fortifies our fundamental giving instinct. Rather than bribing God, we are actively reminding ourselves of the direction in which we should be moving. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 22

25 Susie Fishbein s Honey Cake Recipe Frosted Honey-Chocolate Cake Here is a twist for Rosh Hashana, when many people serve traditional honey cake. The honey frosting is divine. It is reminiscent of a good cream cheese frosting from carrot cake. 3 ounces good-quality semi-sweet chocolate bar, such as Noblesse 2/3 cup honey cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter or margarine 1 2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 large eggs 2/3 cup milk or soy milk Honey Frosting: 8 ounces cream cheese or parve cream cheese, such as Tofutti brand, not whipped 1 2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter or margarine, at room temperature 1/4 cup honey Status: Dairy or Parve Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes Yield: 9 servings Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and line it with parchment paper, or grease and flour the pan. The cake will turn out onto a serving plate more easily when you use the parchment paper. Set aside. Break the chocolate up and place into a microwave-safe dish with the honey. Microwave for seconds. Stir after 20 seconds to hasten the melting. Place the flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk to combine. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter or margarine with the sugar on high speed until creamy. Add the vanilla, eggs, and the chocolate-honey mixture. Add half the flour mixture with half the milk. Mix. Add the remaining flour mixture and remaining milk. Beat until smooth. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. After cooling for 10 minutes, run a thin metal spatula around the edges and turn the cake out onto a cooling rack or cake plate. While cake is cooling, prepare the frosting: Place the cream cheese in the microwave and heat for 2 (15-second) intervals to soften. Stir. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter or margarine and cream cheese until smooth. With the beater going, drizzle in the honey. Beat until just mixed and creamy. Do not over-beat or the honey will separate. Spread the frosting over the top of the cooled cake. If making the frosting in advance, store in the refrigerator. Susie Fishbein s best-selling Kosher by Design series has revolutionized kosher cuisine. Her creative and delicious recipes are always crowd-pleasers for tastes of all ages. The above recipe comes from Susie s Kosher by Design: Short on Time. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 23

26 Game Answer Key GAME ANSWER KEY Crossword Across 2. year 5. round 6. judgment 8. teshuva 10. honey 11. tekiot 12. Isaac Down 1. kiddush 3. apple 4. rosh 7. tashlich 9. shofar Word Search r e v s r l l o a e e r s t a m p a e m g t t v h r e d a t e s e k a d e a n r e r a r n a n h v a e v u i e t a a a u a n a h s a h h s o r h r a v u g e h k i n g m i a i e t o h a i k e t m e t u k a t a l t m o s r e o s k a s u e o v k t a e a e s k l k p a m t k m p r a y e r h a Dates Elul King Metuka Pomegranate Prayer Ram Rosh Hashana Shevarim Tekiah Teruah Tova Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 24

27 Glossary GLOSSARY Avinu Malkeinu: A well known prayer recited on Rosh Hashana and other special days. It means, literally, Our Father, Our King. Kiddush: The blessing over wine that is recited before the evening meal and the afternoon meal on Shabbat and holidays. Kiddush is the way Jews sanctify the Shabbat and the Jewish holidays. Rosh Hashana: The name for the Jewish new year that literally means head of the year. Shevarim: The name for the three middle length blasts on the shofar. Simanim: The simanim are the symbolic foods that are customarily eaten at the Rosh Hashana night meal. Tefila: The Hebrew word for prayer, related to the concept of self-reflection. Tekiah/Tekiot: The name for the solid, singular note of the shofar. The plural form is the term used for the notes made by the shofar. Teruah: The name for both the act of sounding the shofar and for the nine short blasts sounded on the shofar. Teshuva: Repentance. The word literally means returning. Tishrei: The first month of the year. Rosh Hashana is the 1st of Tishrei. Tzedaka: Charity. The word literally means righteousness. Tashlich: Literally You shall throw, tashlich is the name of the ceremony in which one symbolically casts one s sins away. Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana 25

28 Learn more about NJOP Read Hebrew America is the ideal way to learn how to follow synagogue services, to be more involved in your children s Jewish education, or simply to enhance your own ties to Judaism. These five FREE hour and a half lessons are available for beginners and intermediates. Want to know WHAT NJOP IS UP TO? Here are some great ways to keep in touch! To receive juicy bits of Judaism daily, sign up for Jewish Treats» Become a fan of Jewish Treats on Facebook» Follow us on Read and subscribe to Rabbi Buchwald s Weekly Torah Message» Subscribe to NJOP s mailing lists Jewish Treats is a project of the National Jewish Outreach Program Jewish Treats Complete Guide to Rosh Hashana