Rosh Hashanah Apple Recipes

Rosh Hashanah Apple Recipes

Jewish holidays are filled with rich food symbolism. Many of these symbols--like eating matzah on Passover or fried foods on Hanukkah--can be traced back to a specific textual, historical, or agricultural source. But the origin of dipping apples into honey, the iconic foods eaten on Rosh Hashanah, is less clear.

It is customary on Rosh Hashanah to wish family and friends a "good and sweet New Year," so pairing a sugary apple with even the sweeter honey is a fitting culinary practice. Still, why do we dip an apple instead of a peach, fig, or pear?

Part of the answer lies with the apple's overall significance within Jewish tradition. A line in Solomon's Song of Songs says,

The text suggests that God shares a special and intimate relationship with the Jewish people--an idea that resonates deeply on Rosh Hashanah. It is the apple tree, not the peach, fig, or pear, that assumes the symbolic status as a marker and reminder of that bond.

Besides, arriving at this season healthy and in good, sweet company is something to celebrate!

Here are 8 recipes--from appetizer to dessert--that