Machshavot HaLev - Yeshivat Lev HaTorah

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Rosh Hashana
Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs
Rav Jake Vidomlanski
T he Shulchan Aruch in siman (chapter) 583 codifies the custom to eat an apple
dipped in honey, dates, gourd, carrots and various other foods. The reason for
consuming these foods is to symbolize our yearning for certain positive outcomes in
the coming year. For example, we dip the apple in the honey and say “may we have
a sweet new year.” We eat a tamar (date) and say “yitamu soneinu (may our enemies
disappear).” Although it is a beautiful custom it seems somewhat peculiar. Why don’t
we simply petition God for a sweet new year without the honey? Why not list off all
of our hopes without eating the leek and head of an animal?
Rav Avraham Schorr, in his commentary to the haggadah, suggests a beautiful
explanation of this custom. However, in order to understand the simanim on Rosh
Hashana, we must fast-forward to Pesach. At the end of the seder we sing, “Who
knows one?” Outside of this being a good family song, what is the idea behind the
song? Rav Avraham Schorr suggests that it is a type of exit exam, a word association
test. Throughout the year if I were to ask you what the number one means to you, you
may reply that it is the number of basketball hall of famer Oscar Robertson or football
great Warren Moon. The number two may be your favorite meal at kosher delight,
etc… However after going through the seder - an entire night devoted to teaching
the story of yetziat Mitzrayim, a night dedicated to strengthening our emuna – your
orientation should be changed. If I were to ask you what does the number one mean
to you the answer should be Hashem, the number two of course reminds me of the