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The New Year Seder

Translated by Rabbi David Sackton and Rabbi Chaim Tscholkowsky.
Drawings by Esther Tscholkowsky.

People everywhere are familiar with the Passover Seder, but few know that there is a traditional Seder for Rosh Hashanah as well. Our Sages of Blessed Memory have said, "A sign has meaning". They therefore instituted the eating of various fruits and vegetables to serve as good signs (simanim) for the coming year. This physical expression helps to deepen the intent and meaning of our prayers. We pray that we will be counted among the righteous in judgment and that the A-mighty grant us a year of sweetness and joy. The vegetables listed below were selected for their form, taste, or name which serve as a ‘siman’ for a good year.

The Rosh Hashanah Seder is conducted at the beginning of the evening meal on the first night of Rosh Hashanah, and according to Sephardic custom, on the second night as well. One should study these instructions carefully before conducting the Seder so that by reciting the prayers with a full heart, he can arouse himself toward repentance.

A. The dipping of bread into honey.

  1. The hands are washed and the appropriate blessing recited.
  2. The blessing over bread is then said and the bread is dipped in honey and eaten.
    [During the year we dip our bread in salt as a remembrance of the salt used with the sacrifices in the     Temple, but tonight we dip in honey as a sign for a sweet year.]

 

B. Partaking of the dates. [The Hebrew word for date -‘tamar’ sounds like the Hebrew word for cease - ‘tam’.]

  1. The date is held in the right hand and the blessing, "Who has created the fruit of the tree" , is said. (One should have in mind all other fruits which will be eaten during the festive meal).
  2. A small portion of the date is eaten and the following prayer is recited:
    "May it be the will of our Heavenly Father that our foes cease to harass us."
  3. The rest of the date is then eaten.

C. Partaking of the pomegranate.

  1. The pomegranate is held in the right hand and the following prayer is recited:
    "May it be the will of our Heavenly Father that our merits increase like the seeds of the of the pomegranate."
  2. The pomegranate is then eaten.

D. Partaking of the apple with honey.

  1. The apple is dipped into honey and the following prayer is recited:
    "May it be the will of our Heavenly Father to renew for us a
    good and sweet year."
  2. The apple is then eaten.

E. Partaking of the gourd - 'kara'. [The Hebrew word for gourd - ‘kara’ sounds like the Hebrew word for tear or rend - ‘kara’]

  1. The gourd is held in the right hand and the appropriate blessing, "Who has created the fruit of the ground" , is said. (One should have in mind all other special vegetables which will be eaten during the festive meal).
  2. A small portion of the gourd is then eaten and the following prayer is recited:
    "May it be the will of our Heavenly Father that any bad decree be torn up and that our merits be read before You."
  3. The rest of the gourd is then eaten.

F. Partaking of the black-eyed peas. [The Hebrew word for black-eyed peas - ‘rubyah’ sounds like the Hebrew word for increase ‘yirbu’.]

  1. The following prayer is recited over the black-eyed peas:
    "May it be the will of our Heavenly Father that our merits increase."
  2. The peas are then eaten.

G. Partaking of the leek. [The Hebrew word for leek - ‘karti’ sounds like the Hebrew word for cut down - ‘karet'.]

  1. The following prayer is recited over the leek:
    "May it be the will of our Heavenly Father that our enemies be cut down."
  2. The leek is then eaten.

The reference to ‘enemies’ in this prayer includes the evil brought about by one’s own wrongdoing.

H. Partaking of the beet. [The Hebrew word for beet -‘silka’ sounds like the Hebrew word for remove - ‘salek’].

  1. The following prayer is recited over the beet:
    "May it be the will of our Heavenly Father that our enemies be removed."
  2. The beet leaves are then eaten.

I. Partaking of the fish.

  1. The following prayer is recited over the fish:
    "May it be the will of our Heavenly Father that we be fruitful
    and multiply like fish."
  2. The fish is then eaten.

J. Partaking of the ram's head.

  1. The following prayer is recited over a piece of meat from a ram’s head:
    "May it be the will of our Heavenly Father that we be as a head and not as a tail."
  2. The meat is then eaten. The head of a sheep or of any other animal or fowl may be substituted. Some even use a fish head.

The Rosh Hashanah Seder is now completed.
We continue with a festive meal.

Translated by Rabbi David Sackton and Rabbi Chaim Tscholkowsky.
Drawings by Esther Tscholkowsky.
The material on this page may be reproduced for non-commercial educational use only.

 

 

 

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