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Evening Meal
Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Orach Chayim 583:4
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The Rosh Hashanah meal begins with Kiddush (sanctification), a verbal proclamation about the sanctity and uniqueness of the day. This liturgy is recited over a cup of wine in order to lend the occasion prominence. The liturgy can be found in the machzor on page 46.
CHALLAH • After Kiddush, we wash our hands ritually and eat challah, the traditional loaves prepared especially for Shabbat and holidays.
For Rosh Hashanah—in fact, for all Shabbat and holiday meals during this month—there’s a widespread custom for the challah loaves to be round. Rabbi Moshe Sofer (1762–1839) explains that we shape these loaves in a circle, which has no end, to symbolize our wish and prayer to be blessed on Rosh Hashanah with a long life, with no end in sight.
On a regular Shabbat or holiday, we dip our challah in salt before eating it. On Rosh Hashanah, we dip the challah into honey, signifying our wish for a sweet year.
APPLE DIPPED IN HONEY After the challah, it is customary to eat a slice of apple dipped in honey—again symbolizing our quest for a sweet year. We use an apple because it is a widely available sweet fruit. In addition, unlike some other sweet fruits, the apple has a charming look and a pleasant smell. These three positive assets—taste, sight, and smell—represent our wish for a sweet year in three areas: sustenance, family life, and health.
Before we eat the apple dipped in honey, we recite a blessing and short prayer:
הֵינּו מֶ לְֶך ־נָי, אֶ ֹל־ּבָ רּוְך אַ תָּה אַ דֹ הָ עֹולָם, ּבֹורֵא פְּרִ י הָ עֵץ. עָלֵינּו מִ לְ פָנֶיָך, שֶׁ תְּחַ דֵׁש יְהִ י רָצֹון ּומְ תּוקָה. שָׁ נָה טֹובָ ה
Baruch atah Ado-nai, Elo-heinu melech ha’olam, borei peri ha’ets.
Yehi ratson milfanecha, she-tichadesh aleinu shanah tovah umetukah.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the tree.
May it be Your will to renew for us a good and sweet year.
