Today we offer a special version of the Prayer Chest to observe the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. 

Friday, September 18 at sunset marks the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and the start of the Jewish High Holy Days leading up to Yom Kippur.  It marks the beginning of the 10 “Days” of Awe”, in which Jews focus their attention on repentance and reflection leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, considered to be the holiest day of the Jewish year.  

On Rosh Hashanah, similarly to Passover, there are traditional foods that are eaten. Traditionally, people will eat apples dipped in honey, although, some people also opt for chalah. The apple, paired with the honey, is symbolic of the sweet year that those who observe the holiday hope to have.

APPLES AND HONEY

During Rosh Hashanah, it is traditional to eat apples dipped in honey, to symbolize our hopes for a “sweet” new year. The apple is dipped in honey, the blessing for eating tree fruits is recited, the apple is tasted, and then the apples and honey prayer is recited. 

Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam
our God, sovereign of the universe 
borei p’ri ha-eitz (Amein)
Who creates the fruit of the tree (Amen)

Take a bite from the apple dipped in honey, then continue with the following: 

Y’hi ratzon mil’fanekha
May it be Your will,
Adonai eloheinu vei’lohei avoteinu
Lord our God and God of our ancestors 
sh’t’chadeish aleinu
that you renew for us 
shanah tovah um’tukah
a good and sweet year