Community Blog: Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah, which marks the beginning of the Jewish year 5771, will be celebrated from Wednesday evening, September 8th through Friday evening, September 10. The theme of the holiday is God's rule over the world, and judgment for the sins of the past year. In synagogues around the world, the sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) serves as a call to return the Jewish people to God and observance of His laws.

On Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, food traditions include a sweet round challah, often containing raisins, and apples dipped in honey. Jews following the North African tradition bless the year with a ceremony including cabbage, carrots, and the head of a fish or sheep. The second night of the holiday features a "new" seasonal fruit along with the apple. In Israel we enjoy figs, pomegranates, clementines, or yellow dates.

Smells and tastes from past childhood Rosh Hashanah meals remain with us for the rest of our lives. But as adults, holidays may involve guests and entertaining along with anxiety. Will my honey cake taste like Grandma's? How can I serve gefilte fish from a jar when Mom made it by hand? Jewish traditions may be new for us. Since we probably can't replicate Grandma’s recipes, we can give ourselves permission to adjust menus as required.

The atmosphere and hospitality are as important as the food. If you are anxious because you want everything perfect, your guests won’t be relaxed either.

Planning tips for a stress-free holiday

1. Survey your guests for dietary needs. In most cases every item won’t be suitable for every guest, so let individuals know what to avoid.

2. Don't put sugar in everything. Diabetics and dieters will appreciate something spicy. Serve fresh vegetables and salads to counter traditional, heavier foods.

3. Limit the number of courses and side dishes. Serving a smaller number of items saves time and space, and makes leftovers easier to manage.

4. Accept offers of help. This can be a side course, a bottle of wine, or a bought dessert, as well as help serving and clearing.

5. Stagger cooking so as not to overload your refrigerator with hot foods.

6. Bake your honey cake a few days in advance. When wrapped well, it keeps well without freezing.

7. Make careful shopping lists and cooking schedules with extra time built in. Running out to buy forgotten items is expensive, time-consuming and stressful; and the day before Rosh Hashanah is a kosher bakery's busiest day of the year. Account for required utensils and allow time for defrosting, cooling, reheating, and cleanup. Plan cooking in stages, take breaks, and enlist help from family members.

8. Take a virtual, advance walk through the meal. Think about serving, heating, clearing, traffic, and serving utensils. Be creative about advance preparation, like storing appetizers or dessert on individual plates in the refrigerator or preparing a tea tray so you won’t spend dessert rummaging for your sugar bowl. If guests are willing to help, let them know what you need.

When your guests arrive, smile, smile, smile. Remaining gracious and calm when things go wrong is the true mark of an accomplished balabusta, or Jewish homemaker. Have a happy, calm and delicious Rosh Hashanah.

Suggestions for your Rosh Hashanah menu

Challah
Gefilte Fish
Chicken Soup and Matza Balls
Brisket
Lemon Chicken
Aish's Grated Potato Kugel
Honey Apple Noodle Kugel
Tzimmes Deluxe
Quinoa Tabouli
Rosh Hashanah Honey Cake


If you still have questions about Rosh Hashanah cooking and traditions, check out the Kosher and Jewish Cooking Forum.

Contributed by Hannah Katsman / CookingManager on September 1st, 2010.

Hannah is a mother of six who learned about cooking and food traditions from her European-born mother. She currently publishes two blogs: A Mother in Israel, about parenting, Judaism, and life in Israel, and CookingManager.com where she shares her mother’s efficient cooking techniques.