The Eve of Rosh haShana
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The Eve of Rosh haShana
On `Erebh Rosh ha-Shana (Jewish New Year Eve), there is a beautiful custom, predominantly observed by Sephardi Jews, to eat from a series of dishes that are paired with blessings, wishes and prayers for good fortune in the new year. The accompanied prayers are linked to the food items through word-roots, similar sounds and/or puns. A good many variations of this "Seder" are in use in different communities. These varieties largely depend on the produce available in a given location and on their suitability of being linked to a benediction. However, in my opinion, some of the allusions commonly used are undesirable, expressing the hope for the destruction of the Jews' enemies. While such a desire may be understandable and even excusable in times of great oppression and persecution, I believe it is more desirable to wish for the end of all hostilities, to aspire to establish peace, and to focus on self-improvement. For this reason I have developed the version of the "Rosh ha-Shana Seder" below. Adversarial entreaties have been replaced by more inclusive ones. Of course, not each dish needs to be provided during this celebration. Dishes can be left out of this Seder if some are not available or to the liking of the participants. סדר של ערב ראש השנה
SEDER SHEL `EREBH ROSH HA-SHANA
For a printable format, see below!
KIDDUSH
A cup of wine or grape juice is filled, raised in the right hand and the following words are spoken:
בשבת מתחילין – on Shabbat Eve start with: –
יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי: וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַֽיִם וְהָאָרֶץ וְכָל-צְבָאָם: וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם חַשְּׁבִיעִי מְלַאכְתּוֹ אשֶׁר עָשָׂה. וַיִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִכָּל-מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה: וַיְבָֽרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת-יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ. כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל-מְלַאכְתּוֹ אשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת
The sixth day. The heavens and the earth were completed, and all their array. With the seventh day, God completed the work He had done. He ceased on the seventh day from all the work that He did. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because on it He ceased from all His work that He had actively created.
בחול (חוץ ממוצאי שבת) מתחילין – on weekdays (except Saturday nights) start here:
Attention gentlemen! סָֽבְרֵי מָרָנַן
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי. אֱלֹהֵינוּ. מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. בּוֹרֵא פְרִי הַגֶּֽפֶן Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי. אֱלֹהֵינוּ. מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. אֲשֶׁר בָּֽחַר בָּֽנוּ מִכָּל-עָם. וְרוֹמְמָֽנוּ מִכָּל-לָשׁוֹן. וְקִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו. וַתִּֽתֶּן-לָֽנוּ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ. בְּאַהֲבָה (בשבת: אֶת-יוֹם הַמָּנוֹחַ הַזֶּה) אֶת-יוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן הַזֶּה. אֶת-יוֹם טוֹב מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה (בשבת זִכְרוֹן תְּרוּעָה) יוֹם תְּרוּעָה. בְּאַהֲבָה מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ. זֵֽכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָֽיִם. וּדְבָֽרְךָ מַלְכֵּנוּ אֱמֶת וְקַיָּם לָעַד. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי. מֶֽלֶךְ עַל כָּל-הָאָרֶץ מְקַדֵּשׁ (הַשַּׁבָּת וְ)יִשְֹרָאל וְיוֹם הַזִכָּרוֹן Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has chosen us from among all people, raised us above all tongues, and made us holy through His commandments. You lovingly gave us, Lord our God, (on Shabbat: this Shabbat day of rest), this Day of Remembrance, this festival of holy assembly (on Shabbat: a recalling of the sounding of Shofar) a day of sounding Shofar, a holy convocation, given with love, in memory of the exodus from Egypt. Your word, divine King, is eternally true and enduring. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King over all the eart, who sanctifies (the Shabbat), Israel and the Day of Remembrance.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי. אֱלֹהֵינוּ. מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. שֶׁהֶחֱיָֽנוּ. וְקִיְּמָֽנוּ. וְהִגִּיעָֽנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this moment.
רמון - pomegranate
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁנִהְיֶה מְלֵאֵי מִצְוֹת כָּרִמּוֹן
May it be Your will, Lord, our God, and God of our forefathers, that in the coming year, we will be full of good deeds, like a pomegranate is full of seeds.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי. אֱלֹהֵינוּ. מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. בּוֹרֵא פְרִי הָעֵץ
Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the trees.
תפוח - apple (optionally with honey)
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁתִּפְתַח לָנוּ שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה. מֵרֵאשִׁית הַשָּׁנָה וְעַד אַחֲרִיתָהּ
May it be Your will, Lord, our God, and God of our forefathers, that You open for us a good and sweet year, from beginning to end.
קרא - pumpkin or gourd
יהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁתִּקְרַע רֹעַ גְּזַר דִּינֵנוּ. וְיִקָּֽרְאוּ לְפָנֶיךָ זְכֻיּוֹתֵינוּ
As we eat this gourd, may You guard us, and undo any negative verdicts against us, and may our meritorious acts be announced in your presence.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי. אֱלֹהֵינוּ. מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. בּוֹרֵא פְרִי הָאֲדָמָה
Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the earth
כרתי - cuts of leek
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁתְּחַדֵּשׁ בְּרִיתְךָ שֶׁכָּרַֿתָּ אִתָּֽנוּ
As we eat this leek, may our luck never lack in the coming year, and may You renew the covenant that You cut out with us.
סלק - beetroots
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁיִּסְתַּלֵּק כָּל-רַע מִקִּרְבֵּנוּ
As we bite this beet, and eat this root, may all oppressors be beaten, and evil be uprooted from our midst.
גזר - carrots
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁתִּגְזוֹר עֲלֵינוּ גְּזֵירוֹת יָפוֹת נְעִימוֹת וְטוֹבוֹת
In this year, may you ordain for us good and pleasant decrees.
קטניות - beans
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נִסְיוֹנוֹתֵינוּ קְטַנּוֹת
In this year, may our trials be small.
בצל - onion
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁתְּיַחֲדֵנוּ בְּצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ
As we eat this onion, may we find union in the shadow of your wings.
ראש דג או כבש - fish head, chicken head or sheep head
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁנִּהְיֶה לְרֹאשׁ וְלֹא לְזָנָב
May it be Your will, Lord, our God, and God of our forefathers, that in the coming year we may be at the head, and not at the tail.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי. אֱלֹהֵינוּ. מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. שֶׁהַכֹּל נִהְיָה בִּדְבָרוֹ
Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, through Whose word, everything exists.
מים - water
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁתִּמָּלֵא הָאָֽרֶץ לָדַעַת אֶת-כְּבוֹד יי. כַּמַּיִם יְכַסּוּ עַל-יָם
This year, like the sea is full of water, may the world be flooded with the knowledge of your greatness.
לשון - tongue
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה לָּנוּ לְשׁוֹן הָרַע וְרַק לְשׁוֹן הַטּוֹב
In the coming year, may we hold our tongues against gossip and slander, and may we only know honorable and positive speech.
בשר - meat
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁתִּשְׁלַח לָנוּ בְּשֹוֹרוֹת טוֹבוֹת
In the coming year, may You mete out for us good tidings.
נטילת ידים - ablution of the hands
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי. אֱלֹהֵינוּ. מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדָֽיִם
Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us through His commandments and Who commanded us the cleansing of the hands.
לחם עם דבש - bread and honey
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוְ. שֶׁתַּאֲכִילֵנוּ מֵחֵלֶב חִטָּה וּמִצּוּר דְּבַשׁ תַּשְֹבִיעֵנוּ
In the coming year, may You feed us the finest wheat and satiate us with honey from the rock (Psalm 81:17)
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי. אֱלֹהֵינוּ. מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. הַמּוֹצִיא לֶֽחֶם מִן הָאָֽרֶץ
Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
At this point the main courses are served. Towards the end of the meal, dessert can be had with the following prayers and blessings:
DESSERT
תמר - dates
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁנִּפְרַח בִּצְדָקָה. בַּשָּׁנָה הַזֹּאת: כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר: צַדִּיק כַּתָּמָר יִפְרַח, כְּאֶרֶז בַּלְּבָנוֹן יִשְֹגֶּה
May it be Your will, Lord, our God, and God of our forefathers, as we eat this date, that from this date, we will flourish in righteousness, as it is written: The righteous shall flourish as a date tree, thrive like a cedar of the Lebanon.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי. אֱלֹהֵינוּ. מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. בּוֹרֵא פְרִי הָעֵץ
Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the trees.
ענבים - grapes
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁתִּרְצֶה בְּעַמְּךָ וּתְפָאֵר עֲנָוִים בִּישׁוּעָה
May it be Your will, Lord, our God, and God of our forefathers, that You delight in Your people, have compassion with the humble and deliver them.
חרוב - carob
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁיְּכַתְּתוּ הַגּוֹיִם חַרְבוֹתָם לְאִתִּים וַחֲנִיתוֹתֵיהֶם לְמַזְמֵרוֹת. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר. לֹא-יִשָֹּא גוֹי אֶל-גּוֹי חֶרֶב וְלֹא-יִלְמְדוּ עוֹד מִלְחָמָה
In the coming year, may the nations beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks, as it is written: “Nation shall not take up sword against nation, they shall never again know war.”
שקדים - almonds
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁנֵּלֵךְ בַּדֶּרֶךְ שֶׁקָּדִימָה וְלֹא אֲחוֹרָה
This year, may we walk on the path that leads forward and not backward.
אבטיח - watermelon
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁנֵּשֵׁב עַל הָאָרֶץ לָבֶטַח. כַּכָּתוּב. וְנָתְנָה הָאָרֶץ פִּרְיָהּ וַאכַלְתֶּם לָשֹבַע וִישַׁבְתֶּם לָבֶטַח עָלֶיהָ
This year, may we again dwell securely in the land, as it is written: “The land shall yield its fruit and you shall eat to satisfaction, and you shall live upon it securely.”
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי. אֱלֹהֵינוּ. מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. בּוֹרֵא פְרִי הָאֲדָמָה
Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the earth.
The meal is concluded with Birkat haMazon (Grace after Meals)
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