The Seder of Rosh HaShana

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During the two nights of Rosh haShana, Sunday September 29th and Monday September 30th, we celebrate a ‘Seder’, a ceremonial pre-meal. Unlike the Pesah Seder, which involves the performance of several Mitzvot or commandments, the Rosh haShana Seder is basically a Minhag, a tradition. The purpose of this Seder is to wish each other and all the members of the Jewish people, a happy, peaceful and prosperous new year.

The main blessing we wish for is peace. That is why the request of please God ‘save us’ and ‘protect us from our enemies’ is said once and again.

Following an ancient custom, we associate the names of the foods or fruits we eat with a key Hebrew word which alludes to each blessing. For example, when we eat “dates” (in Hebrew temarim) we ask haShem to make all our enemies disappear (in Hebrew itamu), as you can see, the Hebrew words for “dates” and “disappear” share a similar root T / M, and so for.

We also wish each other to have a year of blessings; to have as many merits as the pomegranate’s seeds; to multiply like fish; and to experience a year of goodness and sweetness, like the apple with honey.

The wording of one of the blessings, the main one, comes directly from the Tora (parashat ki tabo): “shenihyie lerosh velo lezanav,” “May HaShem help us to be at the head (top of our potential as individuals and as a nation) and not at the tail (bottom).”

Similar to Pesah, this Seder takes place after the Kiddush and before the formal meal.

Some families have this Seder before hamotzi, and some families after hamotzi.

Both traditions are acceptable.

SHANA TOBA!