Netivyah wishes you a happy Jewish New Year! Usually we celebrate Rosh Hashanah in our community with family and friends. However, this year, due to the global situation, everyone will celebrate at home.
Traditionally, besides being the new year, Rosh Hashanah is also the day on which God’s judgment is set for the coming year. Besides the seriousness, it is customary to celebrate with a festive meal, alongside many blessings. All the while rejoicing and hoping that the coming year will be even better!
Netivyah is pleased to provide you with the blessings for the “Seder Rosh Hashanah” meal, so everyone can celebrate at home. We have added a few of our own blessings that our congregation has added over the years. Blessings for a happy, good and blessed new year!
1. Candle lighting
Nearly every Jewish holiday starts with the lighting of candles before sunset. We light two candles, make three big circles from the flames towards us (to symbolize bringing His light closer, inviting it into our life and home). Then we cover our eyes and say:
2. Kiddush
This year Rosh Hashanah starts on a Friday, therefore we start the meal with the “Kiddush”, as is traditional for each Friday evening. The root of the word Kiddush is “kadosh” (holy). With the Kiddush we sanctify the Shabbat, as,
“God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.” – Genesis 1:31
Kiddush for Friday evening (skip if Rosh Hashanah falls on a weekday):
“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.” – Genesis 1:31-2:4
Kiddush on a week day (not Friday evening), begins here. If it’s a Friday evening, continue here:
(Raise a wine glass with wine or grape juice.)
“Attention, Gentlemen! Blessed are you God, our Lord, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.”
(“Amen!”)
“Blessed are you God, our Lord, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and desired us. And with love and goodwill has invested us with His holy Shabbat, a remembrance of the act of Creation. (For it is) the first of the holy festivals, commemorating the exodus from Egypt. (For You have chosen us and sanctified us, among all the nations) and with love and goodwill You have given us Your Holy Sabbath as an inheritance.”
“Blessed are You God, who sanctifies the Shabbat, and Israel, and the Day of Remembrance.”
(“Amen!”)
3. “Shehecheyanu” blessing
The Shehecheyanu blessing thanks our Heavenly Father for sustaining us and giving us the life and strength to reach this special day. Shehecheyanu is a blessing we say on momentous occasions; so, how much more suitable to recite it on Rosh Hashanah, as we look back on the whole year.
We made it! Through bitter and sweet moments, through loss and celebration and day-to-day life. We look back and thank our Creator for having reached this moment, and for being able to share it with our dear ones around this festive table.
4. Challah bread
Challah is the traditional, braided bread we serve on Friday evenings and many traditional holidays. We cover it in remembrance of the dew that laid on the manna bread that God provided us with while Israel wandered the desert for 40 years.
On Rosh Hashanah the challah is round to symbolize the circle of life. It may remind us that each end entails a new beginning, and it emphasizes the fullness of life.
Some people eat raisin challah at Rosh Hashanah for added sweetness. However, as we usually sprinkle salt on our challah on a regular Shabbat meal, at Rosh Hashanah we dip it in honey to symbolize our wish for a sweet new year.
5. “Simanim” blessings for a sweet year
On Rosh Hashanah it is customary to eat specific fruits and vegetables that express our hope and voice different requests for the new year. However, the dishes are merely a symbol and a hint, and it is not a must to eat or say a blessing over every dish.
Over the years our congregation has added dishes that symbolize our hope. For example, “turnip” or “kohlrabi” means literally “every rabbi”, and we bless, “may every rabbi come to faith”.
Apples and honey
The Rosh Hashanah table would be incomplete without apples and honey. Slice a crisp apple alongside a small bowl of honey. Before dipping the apple in the honey, we say:
“We praise You, Eternal God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the tree.”
Continue:
“May it be Your will, Lord our God, that this be a good and sweet year for us.” (Eat the apple dipped in honey.)
Pomegranate
The pomegranate (or “rimon”) is mentioned several times in the Bible. Especially in connection to beauty. Also, the corners of the robe of the high priest who served at the Temple were decorated with golden pomegranates.
According to Jewish tradition each pomegranate contains 613 seeds, one for every commandment in the Torah. Therefore we bless:
Gourds
The Armenian word for gourd is “kara”. It sounds similar to the verbs “lekro’a” (to tear) and “lekro” (to read).
Carrot
Carrot, or “gezer”, sounds like the word “g’zar” (decree), and symbolizes the essence of the day on which God sets the verdict (“g’zar din”) of each and every person. Eating carrots on Rosh Hashanah is meant to express our desire that God will nullify any negative decrees against us.
Spinach or beets:
In Hebrew beets are called “selek”, which can also mean to “remove decisively” or “cast out”.
“May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that our enemies, haters and those who wish evil upon us shall depart.”
(As it is written: “Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed.” – Micah 5:9)
Grapes:
Fennel:
Fennel, or “shumar”, is connected to the word “lishmor” (keep, protect).
Dates:
Related to the word “tam” (to end).
“Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the tree.”
Continue:
“May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that there come and end to our enemies, haters and those who wish evil upon us.”
Turnip/kohlrabi:
Literally “every rabbi”.
Quince
“Khabush” is related to the word “bandage”.
Head
Traditionally the head of a lamb or fish, though vegetarians may use the head of a cabbage or lettuce, instead. The word for head is “rosh”, as in Rosh Hashanah (literally: “Head of the Year”).
We pray for a clean slate for new chances and new beginnings after self-reflection. It is our hope to head this year with Godly vision and His strength for our life, rather than follow or linger in the rear. Furthermore, in ancient belief it is told that fish never sleep. This is discredited, but the vigilance of the fish represents our desire to continually seek God’s presence and opportunities to do good.
Shanah Tovah U’Metukah! We thank Rabbi Joseph Shulam, Yehuda Bachana, Daniel and Muriel Stern and everyone at Netivyah for all the kindness they do for the loving teaching of the Scriptures. The Holy God of Israel and Yeshua reward and bless them! Shalom! Carla, family and friends, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Thank you Yuda and Lydia for sharing this beautiful article!
Happy new year and greetings from the Netherlands. Anne Mulder
Thank you for blessing us all with living in trust and faith always pointing us back to scripture, the people of Israel, and walking in the righteous path of our Messiah Yeshua!
May God continue and provide even more than he has in the past in this NEW season in Israel. Meeting all the needs of his work through the People of Netivyah serving faithfully in the LAND! We love you and pray for you daily!
Thank you so very much for sharing this beautiful Rosh Hashanah Seder with us. This is so very important! Thank you again & God Bless you & your family!! I am very grateful to learn this!
SHALOM desde Bogotá-Colombia
Mi nombre es Martha Cubillos sueño ir a vivir a ISRAEL
Tengo 59 años creo en el MESIAS YESHUA mas mi situacion economica y familiar no me lo permiten espero un dia lograr mi sueño que es el deseo mas ferviente de mi corazon. Desde el 2014 conoci el moviemiento de raices hebreas y el mundo se ha hecho invivible para mi pues todos se han hecho mis enemigos por decir la verdad de Yeshua todo se ha hecho trizas pero se que DIOS YHVH no me ha abandonado solo soy una oveja buscando volver a casa, BENDICIONES Gracias por compartir la palabra
Thank you Rabbi Yehuda,
You were the Rabbi who helped my son Adam prepare for his Bar Mitzvah. Thank you. We will be using your short Seder this Erev Rosh Hashanah. Thank you again for helping us continue in our traditions.
Philip
Thank you very much.
It is a first time we ear that, and join the same learning and practist here in our congregation.
Y.H.W.H Bless you all Netivyah family.
Happy New year and greeting from Gambella Ethiopia.