Sunday, September 06, 2009

Rosh Hashana

The Book of Life

On the first evening of Rosh Hashanah, [], we bless one another, saying, "May you be signed and sealed in the Book of Life!" This Book of Life is not written on paper, but programmed into the natural order of things. Every year, the program is upgraded and reinstalled. Over, the period of ten days until Yom Kippur, the code can still be revived -- by revising our own inner code. After that, it is burned in. Rewrites are awkward.
Special Foods for Rosh Hashana

On Rosh Hashanah, our table is a feast of optimism celebrating the sweet and abundant year to come. Instead of salt, we dip our Challah in honey. On the first night, Sept 22, we follow this by dipping an apple in honey. Some will place the head of a sheep or fish on the table. Pomegranates are sweetened carrots are also customary....