Rosh Hashanah is officially two weeks away. Can you taste the apples in honey yet? Honestly, for me, this time of year can be extremely daunting. The transition over the past few years of Rosh Hashanah being a completely spiritual experience as a single woman to becoming more practical with making sure that all the food is cooked and that my kids needs are being met adds a different level of challenge.
Last year, I decided I really wanted to inject more spirituality and realized I didn’t have to sacrifice so much of it — I could put it into what I was already doing. One of the most special and unique parts of Rosh Hashanah is the service that identifies different simanim, or symbols, which are foods eaten to help ensure a good new year. Some have customs to eat each one before the meal starts while others intersperse them in different courses throughout the meal. Even if the custom is to eat them at the start though, it’s also fun to continue integrating them throughout to keep the spirit of the holiday going.
A beautiful explanation of the simanim comes from The Meiri, a medieval commentator on the Talmud. He says, “The purpose of simanim is to simply awaken our hearts and inspire us to direct our goals for the new year along the proper path.” So you’ll see that each symbol has a specific prayer associated with it that correlates to the meaning of the Hebrew or Yiddush word, or the nature of the food itself.
To help uplift your Rosh Hashanah prep experience and meal, we’ve got a breakdown of the simanim as well as delicious recipes to turn them into. Do you have a go-to way you make simanim? Comment below!
Simanim Carpaccio
I love combining all the Simanim when guests come in — in the past, I’ve done it in a salad, but my mouth is watering at these new ideas. Combining them is a stunning way to present all of these delicious, symbolic foods, plus you get a bunch in on one plate! Of course, Chani Apfelbaum of Busy in Brooklyn does it beautifully with her Simanim Carpaccio:
Simanim Ribbons
Leave it to my girl, Danielle, at Peas Love n Carrots for a beautiful and fresh idea for the simanim. Her simanim ribbons are actually easy to make yet look so professional. I’m so tempted to try it out this year!
Rosh Hashanah Envelopes
I’m kind of freaking out over these — so much fruity sweetness in one perfect puff pastry bite? What could be better. They’re cute, easy to make, and combine so many simanim in one. Yes, yes and yes!
Apples in Honey
This one is pretty straightforward. Apples are abundant this time of year and they’re round which is a symbol of renewal. The honey is to ensure our year is sweet! A fun way to do this is to get a special honey dish that really elevates the dipping. You can also get apples in a variety of colors and slice them to make a rainbow apples and honey board. Link here for inspo!
For dessert, try this healthy apple honey cake from Kosher.com. My mouth is already watering.
Fish, Pomegranate and Leeks
We often have a fish head or sheep head on the table to symbolize the desire to be heads and not tails, or leaders and not followers but fish in general is also its own symbol. We eat fish as a blessing to be fruitful and multiply like fish. We eat pomegranate seeds in the hopes that our merits increase like the seeds of a pomegranate. Leeks, in Hebrew, are called karet which means “to cut.” We eat them in the hopes that our enemies will be decimated.
This delicious salmon recipe combines all three!
Beets
The Hebrew word for beets is selek, similar to the word meaning “to remove.” So similar to the leeks, we eat beets in the hopes that our adversaries and prosecutors be removed this year. This caramelized beets recipe will for sure be a crowd pleaser.
Butternut squash
Gourds in Hebrew, are called “kra” which means “to tear.” So we eat a member of the gourd family in the hopes that any bad decrees are torn up. This roast is a perfect main course and incorporates butternut squash so it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser.
Carrots
In Yiddush, the word for carrots is “meren” which also means “to increase.” We eat carrots to symbolize our merits increasing in the coming year and that we have bountiful good decrees bestowed upon us.
This roasted carrot recipe has an unexpected twist with the zaatar and is the perfect fall side dish.
Dates
Dates in Hebrew are called tamarim which is similar to the word that means, “to end.” With dates, we pray that our enemies will be consumed. This chicken recipe from Jamie Geller is another delicious main course which has a perfect tangy sweetness. You’ll be obsessed!
What are your favorite ways to incorporate simanim? Let us know in the comments!
About Melissa
