The Sephardic community has a unique mystical tradition for Rosh Hashanah. Symbolic foods are served at a Rosh Hashanah Seder. Some of these foods are also puns, and are called “simanim,” or “signs.” Special blessings called “Yehi ratzones,” Ladino Hebrew for “May it be God’s will,” are chanted over these dishes. Here are some of them, and the traditions associated with them.

The first person to send a Rosh Hashanah greeting was Rabbi Jacob Halevi ben Moshe Moellin.  He lived in the 14th century in Mainz.  He concluded all of his correspondence with “L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu,” “May you be inscribed for a good year.”  Others followed his example. It is fun to continue this tradition today by making your own homemade Rosh Hashanah cards.

It is traditional to eat a “new fruit” on the second night of Rosh Hashanah.  By “new fruit,” we mean a fruit that has just ripened, and that we have not yet eaten this season.

A wonderful tactile activity for Rosh Hashanah is pressing your own grape juice.

The secret Jews of Mallorca have been celebrating Rosh Hashanah surreptitiously with a cake called an 'ensaïmada' since 1492. The word 'saïm', derived from the Arabic 'shahim' (fat), means “lard” in Catalan.

Jews arrived in the Balearic Islands more than 1,000 years ago. They imported the tradition of baking sweet rolled yeast cakes, called 'bulemas', from the Middle East. Traditionally, bulemas were made with sheep's milk butter. After 1492, butter was replaced by lard and the Crypto-Jews of Majorca renamed the bulema. They called it ensaïmada, which means, “with lard”.

One wonderful way to connect with nature in anticipation of Rosh Hashanah is to spend the summer observing the moon.

Home-baked goodies make the best gifts! Show your family and friends that you are thinking of them by baking Rosh Hashanah honey cakes for them.

It is possible to purchase a whole honeycomb or a piece of one. Show your children and guests how the bees store their honey!