What are the "simanim"?

 

On Rosh HaShanah, many Jews choose to eat foods that are “simanim”, omens that symbolize what we are wishing for the new year. Apples and honey are eaten for a sweet year, the head of a fish invokes leadership, and pomegranates display abundance.

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The practice of using food to represent our hopes for the year becomes more popular in times of hardship, when there is more to hope for. Many traditional simanim ask for safety, protection, and an end to oppression of the Jews.​

 

In a moment of hardship for the food security sector, this practice can be generative in reflecting on what we hope for the coming year of our work here at Mazon - and we imagine it can be useful in your own life, related to the issues you care about.

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Use our resources to include this practice in your own Rosh HaShanah celebration, evoking hopes both ancient and modern, personal and collective.