Apple Dipped in Honey: For a Sweet New Year! - Jews in Green

NATIONALLiberator.IHoliday Guide, Laws & CustomsEach Biblically-mandated festival issanctified by the lighting of twocandles before sunset on the eve ofeach Holy day. See Code ofJewish Law (“C.J.L.”) chs. 75; 103 4. On each holy day (except fastdays), two festive meals must beeaten, one on the eve and oneduring the day. C.J.L. ch. 103. Ason the Sabbath, blessings are madeover wine (or grape juice) and twoloaves of bread at each of the twomeals. Id. At each meal, bread,fish and meat should be consumedas means permit. Id.Rosh Hashanah ObservancesRosh Hashanah, the Jewishspiritual new year (Sept 13-14) ischaracterized by prayer,repentanceand theblowing ofseries ofblasts on theshofar (seebelow)throughoutt h emorning/afternoon prayerservice. All labor is prohibited ason the Sabbath.If you or any of your familymembers are in need of amachzor (prayer book) forRosh Hashanah and/or YomKippur, please send names andaddresses to Aleph.At the evening meal, it is a customto perform certain rituals for agood year, such as dipping challahbread and apples in honey, for a“sweet year,” etc.Rosh Hashanah - the first day ofTishrei - is referred to in scripture as"the day of concealment," as theverse states (Tehillim 81:4): Soundthe shofar to mark the new month,the time of concealment of ourfestival day.All that transpires on RoshHashanah has an element ofconcealment. The Talmud (Beitzah16b) states: Sound the shofar tomark the new month, the time ofconcealment - which festival fallswhen the new moon is stillconcealed? Rosh Hashanah. Allother festivals fall either on ornearer the time of the full moon,whereas Rosh Hashanah falls whenthe moon is concealed.Israel is compared to the moon andshe is radiant on the festivals. OnRosh Hashanah, however, shediminishes herself and conceals hergreatness in trepidation of the Dayof Judgment. In the same manner,G-d conceals her sins and accordsher forgiveness (Pesikta Rabbati40).The very character of the first ofTishrei as a Day of Judgment issimilarly concealed and is notexpressly mentioned in the Torah.The reason is that man shouldconcern himself with his sins allyear and not delay his repentanceuntil Rosh Hashanah.This element of concealment alsofinds expression in our custom notto recite the blessing over the newmonth on the Shabbat before thefirst of Tishrei. The reason is that wethereby conceal the approachingDay of Judgment from Satan, so thathe might not come and prosecuteIsrael for her sins.Since Rosh Hashanah is the head ofthe year, it sets the pattern for eachof the days to come. For this reasonwe should be extra careful ineverything we do, think, and say onthis all-important day. Whetherpraying or serving food, makingblessings, eating or conversing at thetable, we keep in mind at all timesthat this is Rosh Hashanah, and asthis day goes, so will the rest of theyear.After the service on the first eveningof Rosh Hashanah, we all greet oneanother with the good wishes of“L'shona Tova TikosaivuV'saichosaimu” “May you beinscribed and sealed for a goodyear.”Eruv TavshillinWhen Shabbat follows immediatelyafter a festival, it is necessary tomake an eruv tavshillin which allowsone to cook food on the festival foruse on Shabbat. An eruv tavshillin isa halachic (legal) device that6VOL. XII NO. 1ELUL 5767-TISHREI 5768 / FALL 20076