Celebrating Rosh Hashanah with Good Food
The holiday of Rosh Hashanah, often referred to as the Jewish New Year, begins on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. According to the Gregorian Calendar, this year, the holiday will start on Friday, September 18th. Rosh Hashanah, which means “head of the year” commemorates the world’s creation, and begins the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of repentance and reflection that culminates in the Day of Atonement, known as Yom Kippur. Preparations for Rosh Hashanah begin a month before the holiday because it’s such an important High Holy Day.
Many different customs accompany Rosh Hashanah. There are special prayers and recitations, and prayer services that feature the blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn. Candles are lit each night, the Torah is read, and people refrain from going to work. It’s a serious holy day, meant for introspection and prayer, but it’s also a joyous time, a celebration of creation and atonement. One celebratory aspect of Rosh Hashanah is the feasting.
It’s customary for families to celebrate both nights of Rosh Hashanah with feasts. There are many customary dishes, including honey cake, fresh fish, brisket, and tzimmes. As on Shabbat and other holidays, the traditional braided bread called challah is on the menu. On Rosh Hashanah, though, the challah is typically baked in a round shape to symbolize the cyclical nature of life and the crown of the Almighty. Sometimes, the challah has raisins, to represent hope for a sweet new year. Another popular Rosh Hashanah custom is to eat apples dipped in honey, and the meals usually have an assortment of sweet treats. The honey and treats, just like the raisins, are for a new year that’s sweet.
Whether or not you celebrate the holiday, it could be fun to try some Rosh Hashanah recipes:
- This Round Raisin Challah with Sweet Crumb Topping practically guarantees a sweet year ahead!
- Want to incorporate traditional ingredients into a dessert that will feed a crowd? This Honey Apple Cake serves ten.
- This Baked Tzimmes recipe is a great way to prepare carrots.
- This Roasted Salmon with Green Beans and Tomatoes is simple and delicious.
- This delicious Brisket recipe comes from Mamaleh’s Delicatessen in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- This Healthy Apple Pie is gluten-free, dairy-free, and delicious.
When you’re shopping for the elements of your Rosh Hashanah meals, you’ll find everything you need at NetCost Market. For over 20 years, we’ve been committed to helping our customers save time and money while offering them the world of food all in one place. We’re a local supermarket with a global reach, providing a selection of everyday food products as well as a variety of culinary delights from around the world. It’s our goal to provide authentic, high-quality food products from local farmers as well as suppliers from around the world. When you shop with NetCost Market, you’ll find a comfortable and gratifying shopping experience that even includes online grocery shopping and home delivery.