Shabbat Gathering: Why a round challah for Rosh Hashanah?

Dear Chevrei, as is our custom, we will gather tonight at 5.45p ct to welcome Shabbat. These are the coordinates:

Zoom
Meeting ID: 963 5113 1550
Password: 1989
Phone: +1 312 626 6799

Also: It's that time of year when we renew our membership with the synagogue. Please take a couple of minutes and fill out the form here. And if you'd like to join our merry band, there's a form for you too. It's here.

Oh, and one more thing... Here's the pertinent webpage for everything you need to know about the High Holy Days at Shaarei Shamayim.

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Here we go.

About 51 weeks a year, if we are blessed, we eat an oblong, braided challah on Friday nights. On Rosh Hashanah, we eat a round challah. Why’s that? As with so many things Jewish, there are many different reasons and here are three.

Possible symbols.

Round challahs don’t have a beginning or an end. They just go round and round symbolizing our wish for a life and blessings that go on and on and continue without end.

A round challah looks like a wheel that spins up and down. The round challah reminds us that, just as our fortunes may go up, they are just as likely to go down again. G!d ultimately decides.

A round challah looks like a crown which reminds us of our Rosh Hashanah liturgy when we talk about crowning G!d as our sovereign.

Keep it personal.

As we prepare to eat the round challah, the apples, and the honey, don’t think about what the round challah should mean or might mean. Instead, think about what it means to you. Make it personal and profound and sweet.

And may it be for all of us a blessing.

See you tonight!
Gut Shabbes!

All my love,
brian.

PS

This Round Challah Is A Must Bake For Your Next Rosh Hashanah

Half the fun is how you braid it.

DelishJustin Sullivan

And...

A million years ago, I took my Brooklyn / Jewish bride to London thanks to an infinite number of frequent flier miles I accumulated from a commute I had between NYC and Boston several times a week. Of course, she wanted to see Jewish London and I had been to London several times but had never looked at it through those glasses. We went to a Jewish neighborhood, Golders Green and stopped in a delicatessen. There, in the display case, we found fried gefilte fish. Fried? We passed on trying it but, on reflection, should have. Who knew it might become a thing.

RECIPES: Start the New Year like a British Jew with fried cod gefilte fish

“Like everywhere else that Jews have settled, Jews in Britain have adopted and adapted certain local ingredients and dishes.” Thus, fried gefilte fish.

J.David A.M. Wilensky

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