Simanim: Symbolic Rosh Hashana Foods
"Simanim” Blessings For A Sweet Year
On Rosh Hashanah it is customary to eat specific fruits and vegetables that express our hope and voice different requests for the new year. However, the dishes are merely a symbol and a hint, and it is not a must to eat or say a blessing over every dish.
Over the years, our congregation has added dishes that symbolize our hope. For example, turnip, “kohlrabi” in Hebrew, means literally “every rabbi”, and we bless, “may every rabbi come to faith”.
Be sure to download the PDF below that contains all the blessings for your Rosh Hashanah seder at home!
Apples and honey
The Rosh Hashanah table would be incomplete without apples and honey. Slice a crisp apple alongside a small bowl of honey. Before dipping the apple in the honey, we say:
“We praise You, Eternal God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the tree.”
Continue:
“May it be Your will, Lord our God, that this be a good and sweet year for us.” (Eat the apple dipped in honey.)
Pomegranate
The pomegranate (or “rimon”) is mentioned several times in the Bible. Especially in connection to beauty. Also, the corners of the robe of the high priest who served at the Temple were decorated with golden pomegranates.
According to Jewish tradition each pomegranate contains 613 seeds, one for every commandment in the Torah. Therefore we bless:
“May it be God's will that our lives may be as full of mitzvot as the pomegranate [is filled with seeds].”
Gourds
The Armenian word for gourd is “kara”. It sounds similar to the verbs “lekro’a” (to tear) and “lekro” (to read).We ask God to “tear” our evil verdict, and that only our good deeds will be read before Him on this Day of Judgment.
Carrot
Carrot, or “gezer”, sounds like the word “g’zar” (decree), and symbolizes the essence of the day on which God sets the verdict (“g’zar din”) of each and every person. Eating carrots on Rosh Hashanah is meant to express our desire that God will nullify any negative decrees against us.
“May it be Your will, Lord our God, that the evil decrees against us be torn up, and our good merits be read out before you.”
Spinach or beets:
In Hebrew beets are called “selek”, which can also mean to “remove decisively” or “cast out”.
“May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that our enemies, haters and those who wish evil upon us shall depart.”
(As it is written: “Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed.” – Micah 5:9)
Grapes:
“May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that soon and in our days we will see what was prophesied by our prophets: ‘Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken (Micah 4:4).’”
Fennel:
Fennel, or “shumar”, is connected to the word “lishmor” (keep, protect).
“May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that You will protect and save us, and that you will save all that you have created, for ‘…the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore (Psalm 121:8).’”
Dates:
Related to the word “tam” (to end).
“Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the tree.”
Continue:
“May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that there come and end to our enemies, haters and those who wish evil upon us.”
Turnip/kohlrabi:
Literally “every rabbi”.
“May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that every rabbi will come to faith in Yeshua, like it is written: ‘They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child… (Zechariah 12:10)’”
Quince
“Khabush” is related to the word “bandage”.
“May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that You will bandage and heal our wounds and sick, like it is written: ‘…the Lord binds up the bruises of His people and heals the wounds He inflicted (Isaiah 30:26).’”
Head
Traditionally the head of a lamb or fish, though vegetarians may use the head of a cabbage or lettuce, instead. The word for head is “rosh”, as in Rosh Hashanah (literally: “Head of the Year”).
We pray for a clean slate for new chances and new beginnings after self-reflection. It is our hope to head this year with Godly vision and His strength for our life, rather than follow or linger in the rear. Furthermore, in ancient belief it is told that fish never sleep. This is discredited, but the vigilance of the fish represents our desire to continually seek God’s presence and opportunities to do good.
“May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that we will be a head and not a tail.”
Get Downloads
Simanim.pdf
Yehuda Bachana
Netivyah Staff
Yehuda is the director of Netivyah and leader of ‘Roeh Israel.’ An IDF reservist and certified tour guide born into the original homegroup in 1979, he has served since 2002, teaching globally with deep scriptural passion. Lydia and Yehuda have three children.
Glossary
Commandment (mitzvah, מצווה) refers to an instruction from God that reveals His will and teaches His people how to live.
Rabbi (רַבִּי) means “my teacher” and refers to a Jewish teacher or spiritual leader.
Rosh Hashanah (רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה) means “head of the year” and refers to the Jewish New Year, traditionally connected with the biblical Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah, יוֹם תְּרוּעָה) and a season of repentance before God.
Seder (סֵדֶר) means “order” and most often refers to the structured Passover meal that retells Israel’s redemption from Egypt. Families may also do a seder of special foods and blessings for Rosh Hashanah.
Torah (תּוֹרָה) means “instruction” or “teaching” and often refers especially to the Five Books of Moses. Psalm 119:1 reminds us that those who walk in God's Torah are blessed.
Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ) is the Hebrew name of Jesus, meaning "salvation"
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