The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashana Starts on September 6-8

Rosh Hashana, or the Jewish New Year is a very important Jewish Holiday and next week it is celebrated starting at Sundown on September 6-8, 2021.

On Rosh Hashana, and the days before and after, Jews wish each other a sweet New Year - or in Hebrew a, "L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu," translated as "May you be written in for a good year."  They send cards or call each other (some people email, Facebook, tweet, etc.). A fun project to do with the kids is to create New Year's cards and send them to family and friends.

Rosh Hashana is the start of the Jewish New Year. This holiday is also called the Day of Judgment, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Shofar Blowing. During the two days of this holiday, Jews attend services at Synagogues or Temples where they will pray for a sweet year full of blessings, ask their families and friends for forgiveness for any transgression and hear the blowing of the Shofar (a Ram's Horn). 

Please note: The shofar is NOT sounded on the first day of Rosh Hashanah this year, as it falls on Shabbat. While we certainly encourage your participation on both days, if you only plan to come once, we urge you to choose Sunday, since you will then have the opportunity to hear the shofar.

The Chabad has a website just for kids with fun, games, stories and activities about Rosh Hashana.

• Honey Bee Rosh Hashana Cards
• Hand Print Rosh Hashana Cards
• Apple Lacing Card

One of the funnest parts of this holiday is the nightly meal where Jews get together for a large family dinner, where they eat round Raisin Challah's or Egg Bread and dip Apples in the Honey, as a symbol of having a sweet New Year. Traditionally, the meals provide a wonderful opportunity for the family to get together, enjoy each other, reflect on the past year and be optimistic for the upcoming year. Some fun foods to enjoy while celebrating this holiday are Apples dipped in Honey, Sweet Carrot Tsimmes, the round Challah or Egg Bread with Raisins and Honey Cakes. 

The Round Challah is used instead of the usual Braided Challah/Egg Bread. The special Round Challah reminds Jews of the roundness of the year and tells us that the coming year will be full and fruitful.  (Some people also add Sweet Raisins to the Challah).Apples used at the family meal should be sweet (not a green, Tart Apple) and is dipped into the Honey.   The purpose behind the dipping is to talk about the sweetness of the Apple and of the Honey, and the sweetness that we hope for the New Year. Carrots in the Yiddish language, are called ‘merren’. This word also means ‘more’ in Yiddish. We want more of all the good things in life: More happiness, more health, and more success.   

Here is a yummy Honey Cake Recipe I make every year:

Spiced Chocolate Honey Cake:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 
• 1 cup of vegetable oil 
• 1 cup honey (preferably Avocado Honey) - I also usually double the honey for extra sweetness
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 large eggs 
• 1 can Pepsi beverage 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
• 1/2 cup non-dairy chocolate chips 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C). 
2. Grease 2 tube cake pans. Set aside. 
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground cloves, and allspice. Set aside. 
4. In a bowl combine honey, oil, and both sugars. 
5. Beat mixture on low to medium-low speed for 1 minute or until its mixed well. 
6. Add in the eggs, Pepsi, and vanilla and beat for 2 to 3 minutes on low speed. 
7. Slowly add in the flour mixture and beat on medium-low speed for another 2 minutes until batter is smooth and well combined.
8. Fold in chocolate chips.
9. Pour batter into the prepared tube pans and bake 350 degrees F (180 C) oven for 50 to 65 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in center of the cake comes out clean (without any moist crumbs). 
10. Remove from oven and let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack and let the cake cool completely. 
11. When cake has cooled, transfer to a serving plate or platter or freeze like I do until I need to serve it. 

Please visit How to Make a Delicious Jewish Apple Cake for an additional recipe.  

To learn more about the Jewish High Holidays, please visit the Yom Kippur and Sukkot articles.