We are what we eat... Apples dipped in honey makes the coming year sweet
22 Elul—Shanah Tovah, Have a Sweet One!
During the month of Elul, it is customary to get in touch with loved ones. While we have been reaching out to friends and family for the purpose of making amends, Elul is also a time to reconnect with those we lost touch with over the year. We extend New Year’s greetings and exchange highlights of the year. Many send Rosh Hashanah cards. Others call friends and relatives who live far away. And of course, we can connect virtually by way of Facetime, Skype, Zoom and more.The purpose is to connect, to share this holiday time together as a Jewish community.
A common greeting during the High Holidays is for a “Sweet New Year.” Ideally, our efforts to improve ourselves by soul searching and making amends have been deliberate and sincere. This indeed paves the way for a new, good, and very sweet year ahead. This has been an incredibly challenging year for the human family and for our planet. While it may sound trite to say we hope for a sweet new year, the sentiment is meant point us toward whatever sweetness means to each of us. Indeed we are in need of a sweetness that includes healing, transformation, and sustainability.
We set the tone for a sweet year with Jewish culinary traditions such as eating apples and honey, sweet round challah, and honey cake.
Tradition holds that the very first Rosh Hashanah card was sent by 14th century Rabbi Jacob Halevi. In it he wrote what is heard throughout this holiday season, May you be written and sealed for a good year! In Hebrew the words are, L’Shanah tovah tikateyvuh v’tichatemu.
The process of sending out Rosh Hashanah cards may sound overwhelming and tedious. Yet for many it is a holiday tradition that helps set the tone for a new year. In reaching out and sharing holiday greetings, you are expanding on the idea of Teshuvah, return. This is a new year for all of us and we share in the renewal this time offers.
Today’s Elul Tool: Extend a Rosh Hashanah greeting to at least one person you care about. If you have more time, make a list of several people you would like to make contact with in this way. Try one of the following ways to make a Rosh Hashanah connection with someone:
1. Buy a set of Rosh Hashanah cards from a synagogue gift shop, if they are open during this time. Even if you end up not sending any cards, you will support the synagogue with a donation! But try to send at least one card.
2. Send homemade Rosh Hashanah cards. This is more realistic if you have children and are looking for engaging holiday ideas to share with them.
3. Set aside the time for personal phone calls with friends or relatives you want to connect with. Make sure to extend a New Year’s greeting.
Or if Communicating Via the Computer Works Best for you consider... 1. Sending Rosh Hashanah e-cards. Try one of the links provided below:
2. Share Rosh Hashanah greetings and highlights of your year with friends and family through a group email. One blast and it’s off!
3. Make a quick Rosh Hashanah “video card” and post on You Tube. Send the link to friends and family. Again, one blast and it’s off! Additionally, start to offer any of the following greetings to your Jewish friends and family through the rest of the Holiday season: • Shanah Tovah or L’Shanah Tovah: A Good Year • Shanah Tovah U’metukah: A Good and Sweet Year • L’Shanah Tovah Tikateyvuh V’tichatemu: May You Be Written and Sealed For a Good Year NOTE: It is customary to send Rosh Hashanah cards and greetings all the way through Simchat Torah which this year ends on September 29. So if you want to get in touch with lots of people with cards or calls, don’t feel like there is an urgency to complete this before Rosh Hashanah.
Psalm 27
It is customary to read Psalm 27 twice daily during Elul.
Here is an online version of Psalm 27 for easy access.
For Families and Kids!
Junior Tool Box:
Discuss the importance of staying in touch with people. Rosh Hashanah gives us the opportunity to do that, even if only once a year!
Make home-made Rosh Hashanah cards and send out to family and friends. Teach your children the traditional Holiday greetings above. Practice and have fun with both the English and Hebrew versions!
Make apple prints, either for cards or holiday decorations. Cut an apple in half (try to have the cut as smooth and even as possible), dip in paint or press on a stamp pad, and apply to paper or card. Add leaves and a stem!
Make a snack of apples and honey.
Listen to “Apples Dipped in Honey” in the audiofile below.
As full moon wanes to dark orb, we join our kin world wide. Shanah Tovah!
21 Elul—Practical Tips for the Holidays
Rosh Hashanah is just around the corner. This special holiday begins at sundown, with the new moon of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, on Monday, September 6. Some of you may be going to services. Some of you may observe this time at home. Others who are new to experiencing the holidays, may not have a particular plan for observing and celebrating. Regardless of your level of observance and knowledge of the Jewish High Holy Days, what follows are some practical tips for thinking a little bit ahead and preparing for these special days.
Special Meal: For Erev Rosh Hashanah (remember that the Jewish day starts at sundown), many people celebrate with a festive meal including candle lighting for Yom Tov (literally translated as good day, meaning special holiday). Kiddush over wine and challah and a special blessing called the Shehecheyanu are also recited. Even if you will not be heading off to synagogue afterward, consider having a special meal and lighting candles specifically for the holiday. If you think you might host such a special evening, now is the time to think about the logistics!
Synagogue Services: Most synagogues hold services for Erev Rosh Hashanah (the evening service) as well as the following two days in the morning. Services are also held for Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur day. If you don’t belong to a synagogue, you can still attend services. This year, many synagogues are holding Zoom services. Because of this you can probably attend services anywhere around the world. Now is the time to find out where, when, and whether you have to be a member to sign on.
Special Foods:
Traditional holiday foods include round challahs (symbolizing the cyclical nature of things, wholeness etc), apples and honey, and sweet foods baked with honey, such as traditional honey cake. The honey and sweetness symbolize the hope for a sweet new year. Consider having some of these foods during the holiday. It sets the mood and joins you with millions of other Jews around the world who are participating in the same customs. How unifying! If you want to have round challahs for Rosh Hashanah, find a local bakery and see if you need to order one in advance. You can also bake your own! There is a great challah recipe at the end of today's post. Similarly, many bakeries and stores sell baked Rosh Hashanah honey treats. If you like to bake, there are dozens of honey cake recipes (either online or from your friends and family). However, if you would like to experience a really spectacular honey cake, check out the recipe at the end of today's post. Now is the time to plan ahead for preparing or purchasing these foods! Next trip to the store, stock up on apples and honey!
Special Clothes for Rosh Hashanah: Many like to take the opportunity to treat themselves to a new outfit for Rosh Hashanah. New year, new clothes! If you want to wear something new and fantastic to synagogue, or on Zoom, now is the time to get out to the store! Special Clothes for Yom Kippur: Yom Kippur falls ten days after Rosh Hashanah. It is traditional to wear all white (to symbolize purity) on Yom Kippur day. Additionally, many people do not wear leather of any kind (shoes included). If you want to observe these customs, now is the time to make sure you have white clothes and/or non leather shoes that fit and are comfortable. Don’t wait until the last minute and find you don’t have what you need. Fasting for Yom Kippur:There is a 25 hour fasting period during Yom Kippur (essentially sundown to slightly after sundown the following day). Many need to prepare themselves physically and emotionally for this process. If you drink caffeine, now is the time to start tapering back to avoid the headaches that occur when stopping abruptly. If you think giving up coffee will be too much of a stretch, do the rest of the fast. Don’t let this be a reason for not fasting. Maybe you can drink it without cream and sugar though or drink the least amount you can get by with?
Taking Time Off: Allow yourself time off from work (and your children from school) to honor these extremely important holidays. Even if you do not attend services, make a commitment to take some time off for your own personal observances, mediations, prayers, contemplative walks etc...Join with the millions of Jews around the globe who are doing the same. It’s a powerful idea to consider that the Jewish community as a whole, in cities all over the world, are honoring their heritage and their spirituality in this ancient practice.
Today’s Elul Tool: Take some time to think about how you will observe Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur this year. Wherever you are on the path of observance, knowledge, comfort etc., pick a couple of concrete ways to honor your tradition, to take care of your soul. Can you increase your observance from whatever you did last year? Perhaps you want to host a dinner? Maybe you want to bake a honey cake or round challah? Can you commit to fasting, giving up coffee? Even if you are nervous and unsure about attending services, consider all the hard work you have done preparing for Elul. It is extremely moving, powerful, and transformative to go through this process as a community in a synagogue setting. Even if you feel unfamiliar with synagogue practice and rituals, perhaps this is the year to “check it out?” Pick something from these ideas that will stretch you, but is also realistic and doable for your life. The main point is to continue learning and growing each year!
Psalm 27
It is customary to read Psalm 27 twice daily during Elul.
Here is an online version of Psalm 27 for easy access.
For Families and Kids!
Junior Tool Box: Many synagogues offer children’s services. This year this will most likely be happening virutally, on Zoom. Contact your local synagogue for details. It’s always a special treat to hear the shofar blowing at High Holiday services. Children really enjoy this part of the service. Discuss the different holiday customs from above. Do any interest your child more than others?
Keep in mind that while children usually do not fast on Yom Kippur, some families try to keep the meals basic and simple, forgoing treats like dessert and non-nutritious snacks. Food only for the sake of “fuel” is the way to treat the idea for children. Remind them that this helps keep us focused on ourselves and on God. When we are busy enjoying food, we are distracted for the serious reflection Yom Kippur provides.
Continue to eat apples and honey as a treat or a snack! Bake a honey cake (see recipe below) or other apple or honey related treat. Bake a round challah (see recipe below). Go on a shopping trip for a New Year’s outfit. Discuss the idea and importance of wearing white on Yom Kippur. Talk about how it is like making yourself clean and clear. Like a blank slate for the New Year. Look through your children’s clothes and pick out something white for them to wear on Yom Kippur day.
RECIPES
1. Here is the link to a FABULOUS Rosh Hashanah Honey Cake, courtesy of the Smitten Kitchen blog. You won't be disappointed!
The following is my husband's challah recipe. Instructions for making it round are at the end. Enjoy!
Chaim's Challah, A Pretty Good Challah
Makes Two Loaves
Ingredients:
2 packages or 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
1 cups warm water (110 degrees to 115 degrees)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup sugar
1+ tablespoons salt
5 eggs (4 for the Challah dough, 1 for the final egg wash)
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cold water (for the egg wash)
Directions:
In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the oil, sugar, salt, 4 eggs and beat until smooth. Stir in flour to form a firm dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead intently (or diligently) until smooth and elastic, about 8 - 10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Divide each portion into thirds. Shape each piece into a 15-in. rope, braid and pinch ends to seal and tuck under. Place on a greased baking sheet or preferably a baking sheet with parchment paper. Repeat with remaining dough. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
To make a round challah, take one long rope and coil it. You can also take two ropes twisted together or three ropes braided and coil them. (For videos of several different methods, go to Youtube and type in “Round Challah”).
Beat cold water and remaining egg; brush over braids. Bake at 350 degrees F for 17 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove to wire racks to cool.
Background:
Today "challah" refers to the bread eaten on Shabbat. Originally "challah" referred to the small piece of dough that was set aside for the kohen (priest) when making bread. Today we bless, separate and burn a small piece of dough when making bread in remembrance of the portion given to God. This ritual reminds us that sustenance ultimately comes from God and transforms baking bread into a spiritual act.
Make dough for the challah. When it is ready to be shaped into loaves, say the following blessing: Baruch Ata A-Do-Nay Elo-haynu Melech HaOlam Asher Kidishanu B'Mitzvotav V'Tziyvanu L'Hafrish Challah. (Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to separate Challah). Immediately after saying the blessing, pinch off a piece of dough, approximately the size of an olive or one ounce, and say: harai zeh challah (this is challah). Then wrap the separated piece of dough in foil and burn it in the oven. The separated piece of challah should be burned so that it is no longer usable.
Building 
A common greeting during the High Holidays is for a “Sweet New Year.” Ideally, our efforts to improve ourselves by soul searching and making amends have been deliberate and sincere. This indeed paves the way for a new, good, and very sweet year ahead. This has been an incredibly challenging year for the human family and for our planet. While it may sound trite to say we hope for a sweet new year, the sentiment is meant point us toward whatever sweetness means to each of us. Indeed we are in need of a sweetness that includes healing, transformation, and sustainability. 
Tradition holds that the very first Rosh Hashanah card was sent by 14th century Rabbi Jacob Halevi. In it he wrote what is heard throughout this holiday season, May you be written and sealed for a good year! In Hebrew the words are, L’Shanah tovah tikateyvuh v’tichatemu.
NOTE: It is customary to send Rosh Hashanah cards and greetings all the way through Simchat Torah which this year ends on September 29. So if you want to get in touch with lots of people with cards or calls, don’t feel like there is an urgency to complete this before Rosh Hashanah.
