Rosh Hashanah

The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, began at sundown yesterday (9/28). Here are a few traditional Jewish foods served during this holiday:

Apples and honey: Apples are dipped into honey at the Rosh Hashanah table, in special honey pots that usually grace the table once a year. 

Pomegranates: The seeds from the pomegranate are put on the table to represent fertility. " The bounty of seeds inside the fruit."

Round Challah: Challah bread is served in an oblong loaf the rest of the year. It is made in a round shape for the New Year to represent the continuous cycle of the year. The dried fruits and raisins represent the hopes of a "sweet" New Year.

Tzimmes: Thick, sweet stew of root vegetable who's main ingredient is carrots which mean increase.

Lamb or Sheep: It's traditional to display a lamb or sheep head on the table to symbolize that the diners should be at the head and not the tail. (This is a really interesting one)

Leeks: A piece of leek is torn after eating apples and honey and thrown over the shoulder. The torn leek means to rip the enemy apart.

Honey Cake: It is a Jewish staple, and it is prepared without dairy so it can be eaten with meat and it does not violate the kosher restrictions.