Have a Good and Sweet New Year

The Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashana, is a mixture of celebration and solemnity. After the month of Elul, a period of refection, remembering the past year and making resolutions for the year ahead, Rosh Hashana is a two-day celebration beginning on Sept. 28, the first day of Tishrei, which is the first month of the Jewish lunar calendar.

Rosh Hashana is the beginning of the Ten Days of Awe, which focus on repentance and asking for forgiveness and culminate in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

It’s also a time for feasting and of hope for the year to come. Tolucans don’t need to head over the hill to the Fairfax district to celebrate this holiday. The Chabad Center of Toluca Lake at 10660 Riverside Dr. is offering Rosh Hashana services at 6:30 on Sept. 28, followed by a traditional dinner.

As a food writer, this time of year is particularly satisfying, due to the many delicious dishes served during the holiday. Typically, the Rosh Hashana meal begins with the lighting of candles and a blessing, thanking the Lord for allowing everyone to enjoy the holiday season.

The kosher wine is blessed, thanking the Lord for the fruit of the earth. Then a blessing is said over the challah, and apples and honey are passed around the table before dinner is officially served.

The apples and honey that begin the meal are a gesture signifying hope for a sweet New Year. The first course of many Rosh Hashana meals is a whole fish with its head on, symbolizing the hope that one’s head, the source of reason, will guide one during the New Year.

Carrots are another favorite because of their sweetness. Tzimmes, a vegetable or meat stew, often made with carrots, honey, sweet potatoes and apricots, are often served. Another table fixture is kugels, savory noodle puddings made with apples and raisins.   Challah, traditional Jewish bread, is round (as opposed to the traditional long, braided loaf) and a little sweeter than usual.

To finish the meal, honey cake and Tayglach cookies are usually served.

May all Patch readers enjoy a joyous holiday, and Le-Shanah tovah u-metukah tikateivu! (May you be inscribed in the book of life for a sweet year).