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Rosh Hashanah

By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Created January 10, 2017
Rosh Hashanah, or Jewish New Year, usually falls in September and is a joyous, fun-filled two-day event. As with any holiday, food plays a central role; signature dishes feature apples and honey to bring in a sweet new year, challah (a yeast-risen egg bread), and autumnal favorites such as apples, pomegranates, root vegetables, and entrees filled with raisin or cranberry-studded stuffing. Use the menus and recipes here as a starting point, or choose one or two new ideas to incorporate into your family’s traditional gathering!
Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah Foods and Their Meanings

  • On Rosh Hashanah, challah is formed into round loaves (instead of the more common braids) to symbolize the circle of life.
  • Apples and honey are a part of many dishes served at Rosh Hashanah to usher in a sweet New Year. Dipping apples in honey is to dip the fruits of one’s labor in the sweetness of the year to come.
  • Pomegranates, with their abundance of seeds, represent the 613 commandments found in the Torah and call to mind the many good deeds performed during the year.
  • A stuffed chicken or stuffed vegetables are said to bring forth a year filled with blessings.
  • Fish are a symbol of prosperity as well as knowledge—their eyes are always open, so they 'see' everything. At Rosh Hashanah, fish are often served whole to signify the head of the new year.