Greetings
Rulings about Rosh Hashana Night and its Simanim are based on the Mishna Berura reflecting Ashkenazi practice.
- On Rosh Hashana night the custom is to wish each other ‘Leshana tova tikasev (for a woman – tikasevi)’ ‘may you be written for a good year’. Some also add ‘vesechasem (vesechasemi)’ may you be sealed, whilst others do not. This greeting may be given until at least Chatzos, halachic midday, on the first day of Rosh Hashana. There are varying customs as to whether to continue to give this greeting until the following morning, or whether from this point onwards to wish ‘Gmar Chasima Tovah’,’ ‘may you have a good final sealing (of your judgement)’ or simply ‘Shana Tova’, ‘may you have a good year’. (Rema 582:9, MB 25, Dirshu 31).
Simchas Yom Tov
- Whilst Rosh Hashana is a day of judgement, it is also a day of joy, with the mitzvah of ‘Vesamachta beChagecha’, rejoicing on Festivals, applying to it. Indeed it is one of the Yamim Tovim on which Chazal emphasised eating good meals. This is also reflected by the verse in Nechemya (8:10) – ‘eat lavish foods and drink sweet drinks, for today is a holy day for Hashem; do not be sad, for the rejoicing of Hashem (ie the mitzva of Simchas Yom Tov – Metzudas David) fortifies you.’
- That said, one should not eat excessively to not lead to frivolity – an atmosphere of Yiras Hashem, Awe of Hashem, should be maintained (SA 597:1, MB1, MB 521:11).
The Rosh Hashana Simanim
- Source: The Gemara (Krisus 6a) says that one should eat certain foods on Rosh Hashana that act as a ‘siman’, a positive indication for the year ahead – either as the name of the food or its nature (eg being sweet) hints to something positive. We eat these Simanim on Rosh Hashana night and accompany this eating with a tefilla that relates to this positive indication.
- For example, the Gemara says one should eat beetroot, which is סילקא in Aramaic and is similar to the Hebrew word ‘סילוק’, removal, hinting to the removal of our enemies. We therefore daven ‘יהי רצון… שיסתלקו שונאינו’, ‘May it be your will Hashem that our enemies be removed’. (SA 583:1).
- It is also customary to eat the head of a sheep, or better a ram, and failing this the head of another animal or fish, and accompany this with the tefilla that ‘we should be as a head and not a tail’ (SA 583:2, MB7).
- Apple and Honey: Many have the custom to eat an apple dipped in honey and accompany this with the tefilla that ‘we should have a sweet year’. A bracha must be made on the apple even though one has previously said hamotzi. One should not say the tefilla until one has already eaten some of the fruit, to not interrupt between the bracha and the eating. Many also dip their challah in honey and eat other sweet foods and juicy meats at the Rosh Hashana meal (Rema 583:1, MB 3).
- Brachos: It is advisable to consult with one’s Rav about which of the other simanim on Rosh Hashana night require a bracha (it depends on whether they are foods that are considered a normal part of a meal) and if one is eating other fruits from the shivas haminim such as dates and pomegranates, about whether one should eat these before the apple and say ha’etz on these instead (Dirshu 583:6, 7)
- Teshuva: When saying the tefilla ‘may our merits be abundant’ when eating the associated siman (there are differing practices as to which food one eats in relation to this tefilla), one should try and encourage oneself to do teshuva, which can convert even our sins into merits when done out of love, and say the tefilla wholeheartedly (MB2, Dirshu 4).
- One can typically find a full list of simanim and the associated tefillos in the machzor.
- Bugs: One must take care that foods which require this have been checked properly for bugs; when one has not done so, one can say the tefilla simply on seeing the food without eating it (Dirshu 583:1).
- Both nights: Many have the custom to eat the simanim on both nights of Rosh Hashana and some even do so during the daytime (Dirshu 583:5).
Bitter, Sharp and Sour Tastes
- Given the symbolic nature of what we eat on Rosh Hashana, some have the custom not to eat foods with a bitter, sour or sharp taste, for example if they have added vinegar.
- Nuts: Some also do not eat nuts, as the Hebrew אגוז has the same gematria, numerical value, as חטא, sin.
- Grapes: The Vilna Gaon says not to eat grapes on Rosh Hashana for Kabbalistic reasons. (MB583:4, Dirshu 12, MB 600:4).
Care About One’s Actions
- As an extension of the idea of the symbolic nature of what we do Rosh Hashana, one should pay particular care to one’s actions. For example, one should take special care not to get angry, but rather to be happy and trust in Hashem that we will merit in the judgement of the day through our Teshuva and good deeds (MB 583:5).
Shehecheyanu on Second Night Rosh Hashana
- On the second night of Rosh Hashana, there is a dispute about whether one should say the bracha of Shehecheyanu.
- To satisfy all opinions, it is therefore recommended for a man who says Shehechaynu at kiddush, and a woman saying Shehechyanu at candle lighting to wear a new garment, or bring a new fruit to eat and have this in mind when saying Shehechaynu as well.
- When this is not possible to arrange, Shehechaynu should still be said at candle lighting and Kiddush (SA 600:2, MB4).
