There is a story about a young shepherd who joined his father for the

Rosh Hashanah prayers. The young boy did not know how to read and

write and could not read the prayers from the siddur. When everyone

prayed silently he turned to God and said I do not know how to read the

prayers so I will pray in the only way I know. He took out his flute and

started playing, pouring his heart into the music. The people around him

got very upset and his father was very embarrassed and they were all

ready to throw the boy out of the synagogue. The rabbi stood up and

silenced them. He said that the tune that came from the boy’s heart went

straight to the heavenly throne. It is thanks to the pure prayer of this boy

that we will have a good year.

In the tractate of Keritot page 6a in the Babylonian Talmud it

is said Said Abaye: Since you hold that

symbols are meaningful, every man should make it a habit to

eat on New Year pumpkin, fenugreek, leek, beet and dates.

The seder of Rosh Hashana, is a beautiful tradition. We bless

the new year using different simanim symbols. Each symbol

represents a wish for the new year. The simanim are made of

different kinds of food that symbolize one of our wishes or

sound like something we wish for. The fruits of shivat ha

minim the seven species are the stars of the seder.

Over the generations many traditions emerged depending on

the local food. Feel free to come up with your own wishes

based on sounds or symbols. It is a great opportunity to

involve children and guests with original ideas for blessings

for the new year.

Shana Tova

According to the

tradition there are 613

Seeds in the Rimon just

Like the mitzvot.

What do you think?

Try to count them…

Fish is one of symbols of the

zodiac. We wish to multiply like

fish. Some people eat a head of a

fish and wish to be the head and not the tail

a land of wheat and barley, and vines and

fig-trees and pomegranates; a land of olive-trees and honey .

The date is one of the seven species that

are mentioned in the Torah in regards to

Israel. The rabbis said that the word Honey in the verse is a date.

What else can we use a palm tree

for?Hint: Sukkot