Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Rosh Hashanah: Renewing and Repeating

Two weeks ago, in my Sunday Currently vlog, I said I was looking forward to the approaching New Year; Rosh Hashanah begins tomorrow night, and this season truly is one of renewal for me.  Jon just arrived, we're preparing for an unexpected but not unwelcome move to another apartment, and the weather has finally changed so it really does now feel properly like fall.  There are so many opportunities to start this new year - 5775 in the Jewish calendar - afresh, but it's also incredibly satisfying to remember from what this year has been born.

To symbolize that, challah eaten on Rosh Hashanah is traditionally round.  (Shabbat challah is braided, the six strands of the bread representing the six working days that are bound into the single loaf of the sabbath.)  Rosh Hashanah literally means "head of the year," but shana, year, comes from the Hebrew word for "repeat."  Thus the round challah embodies cyclical time, every year beginning in the year that came before and leading to the next.

I decided to bake my own round challah on Sunday to prepare for Rosh Hashanah.  Combining this recipe and this recipe from Smitten Kitchen, I made a round woven loaf with honey to encourage a sweet new year, and then I stewed apples and spices for a compote to serve with the challah.  It was absolutely delicious, and with our first bites Jon and I wished each other a shana tova.  To you as well, dear readers: may you be inscribed and sealed for a very good new year!




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14 comments:

  1. This was super interesting to me. Growing up in the Bible belt, I may have known 2 people who were Jewish. But I've always been super interested in all of the traditions!

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  2. now you know me! happy to answer any questions - I know marginally more than Wikipedia :P

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  3. this looks so delicious! the first time i tried challah bread it was served with cinnamon butter...ahhhmazing! xo jillian - cornflake dreams

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  4. How lovely to have this way to start your fresh start together.

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  5. challah is the only yeast bread I can make successfully! I usually fail at other breads. maybe God is telling me something?

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  6. never would have guessed that Jon's immigration journey might have been timed from on high :P

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  7. oh YUM sounds like a perfect midnight snack!

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  8. The only yeast bread I can do is a sourdough and I am pretty sure that is only because you are allowed to make the starter up to a week in advance.

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  9. I love eating challah and I imagine it takes quite some skill to make. Yours looks gorgeous. x

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  10. I love when you explain the symbolism of the holidays.

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  11. I love learning more about the Jewish faith from you. Also, that challah looks beautiful!

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  12. I'm so impressed! That looks delicious. It's so interesting learning more about the Jewish customs from you :)

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  13. That looks amazing!! I am impressed with your bread skills. I hope you do have a very sweet new year!!x

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  14. I absolutely LOVE challah and this looks amazing. My favorite little cafe here makes a grilled cheese with bacon and tomato on challah and... well, my mouth is watering. It's delicious!

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