Celebrations
Rosh Hashana Food
Summer is winding down. Hard to believe that the Jewish New Year and Rosh Hashana are just a week away, starting this year on the evening of Friday, September 18, 2020 and running through Sunday, September 20th at sundown. Jews around the world will be celebrating the beginning of the Hebrew year 5781 -- the birthday of Heaven and Earth -- by praying and preparing special foods for the holiday featuring popular ingredients such as apples and honey. This calls for some really delicious but simple recipes and easy Rosh Hashana DIY crafts to celebrate the holiday.
Origins of Apples & Honey
Tradition holds that this 2-day Jewish festival marks the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, beginning a 10-day period known as the High Holidays. It is a time of self reflection and repentance, coronation of G-d, and judgment of all the good and bad things we have done during the past year, culminating with the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur.
The apple figures prominently in the Genesis story of Adam and Eve's experience with plucking fruit from the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden. Some say, it is for that reason that the custom of Jews dipping apples in honey evolved to remind us of the forbidden apple Adam picked from the tree. The act of people today dipping apple slices into honey represents the idea that despite this sin we hope G-d forgives our flaws and blesses us, our family, friends, and everyone else, with a sweet new year.
Apple Honey Dish
Typically a decorative bowl made of ceramic, silver or some other material holds the honey that is used at the Rosh Hashana table. Why not change things up this year, by creating a beautiful and easy kid-friendly edible honey dish using a real apple?
Easy Step-by-Step Directions
- Choose a good-sized apple of your choice, one that is free of blemishes and is symmetrical with a relatively flat bottom so it will sit level on your table; wash fruit well
- Use a sharp knife, if needed, to carefully slice off 1/8-1/4" off the bottom of the apple so the fruit won't tip easily
- Leave stem and leaves (if any are present) intact, using the knife cut an approximately 1/4-1/2" slice crosswise across the top of the apple to create the lid and set aside
- Cut a circle guideline carefully inside the apple base, being sure to leave the skin at least 1/4-1/2" thick
- Follow by using a small spoon, such as a teaspoon, to carve out the inside of the apple, again remember to keep skin thick enough so it won't leak -- depending on abilities, this is a good stage to get the kids involved in the process
- Place your apple honey dish on a small pretty plate, fill with honey, add a tiny serving spoon, cover with apple lid, display on your table, and enjoy
- Refrigerate apple dish with lid on wrapped in plastic wrap when not it use; it should keep chilled for about 2-3 days
Pomegranate Recipes
Like MBE's apple honey pot idea? Please feel free to leave a comment. Then watch our site for another creative Rosh Hashana recipe and how-to next week inspired by pomegranates, which according to tradition, were actually the "apples" referred to in the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. I'll be showing you how simple it is to make these beautiful and festive Pomegranate Challah round bread loaves pictured above for your Rosh Hashana holiday celebration.