By Dahlia Fisher – September 14, 2020
At the end of this week, on the evening of Friday, September 18, 2020, we will be welcoming in the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. But, as with many Jewish holidays in 2020, our celebrations probably won’t look the same as they have in prior years. So, how can we honor old traditions in new ways in the midst of a pandemic? We’ve got a list of 5 ways to prepare for Rosh Hashanah. Check out these tips:
Before we get started, let’s review the basics. Our pal Mayim Balik breaks down the holiday into 4 Things Jews Do on Rosh Hashanah. Watch the video and let’s get started planning this year’s celebration.
1. LET’S EAT. We may not be gathering for a great big family meal like we usually do, but we can still practice the tradition of eating symbolic foods. According to Spruce Eats, “There is a tradition at Rosh Hashanah to eat symbolic foods (simanim) meant to help ensure a good new year. This list blends both Ashkenazic (Eastern European) and Sephardic (Mediterranean) traditions and includes recipe suggestions for integrating symbolic foods throughout your yom tov(holiday) menus.
Read the article >
2. BAKE A ROUND CHALLAH. On Rosh Hashanah, we eat round challah bead because it symbolizes the year being round as well as crowning God as King for the New Year. We searched for an easy Challah recipe where we could also get expert tips on how to make the dough into a round shape. Watch the PJ Library video and find the recipe online.
SEE HOW ROUND CHALLAH GETS MADE
3. BLOW THE SHOFAR. For all you Leonard Bernstein fans, you may recall from our special exhibition about his life and music that he used Shofar blasts heard on Rosh Hashanah at the opening of West Side Story. Listen to the Shofar being blown and compare it to the opening of the film. Neat, huh? But, if you want to go a step further, keep on watching all the way down to the third video to learn how to blow the Shofar yourself with expert Paul Root Wolpe, PhD.
HEAR THE SHOFAR BEING BLOWN
WATCH THE WEST SIDE STORY CLIP
LEARN TO BLOW THE SHOFAR YOURSELF
4. PARTICIPATE IN TASHLICH. The act of casting off sins is a tradition with history that dates back to the 13th According to MyJewishLearning.com, “On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Jews traditionally proceed to a body of running water, preferably one containing fish, and symbolically cast off their sins. The Tashlich ceremony includes reading the source passage for the practice, the last verses from the prophet Micah(7:19), ‘He will take us back in love; He will cover up our iniquities. You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”
WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT THE TRADITION OF TASHLICH
5. SET THE MOOD WITH MUSIC. Thanks to the website for radio station WRTI 90.1, we’ve got a list of classical and jazz programs to soothe your soul during the High Holidays, including Musical Memories with Itshak Perlman. Take a sneak peek and tune in all weekend long.
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC OF ITHAK PERLMAN
However you choose to celebrate this New Year, we wish you a healthy and sweet holiday. Chag Sameach!
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