Unique Rosh Hashanah Foods

There's an old joke that we can summarize every Jewish holiday by saying "They tried to kill us. We survived. Let's eat." And, there is truth in the importance Judaism places on the connection of food and holidays. On Rosh Hashanah, it is widely known that apples and honey are popular foods to eat because they symbolize our desire to have a sweet New Year. Similarly, many Jews eat round challah on Rosh Hashanah to represent life and continuity. However, in addition to these traditional items, there are other, more obscure, foods that can bring meaning and good taste to your holiday. Click through our gallery to learn about the unusual delicacies some people find on their Rosh Hashanah tables and decide if you wish to add them to yours!

Click for the First Unique Rosh Hashanah Food...

Meredith Jacobs is founder of modernjewishmom.com and author of "The Modern Jewish Mom's Guide to Shabbat."

Heads of Fish, Sheep, or Lettuce

Eating the head of an animal--traditionally, of fish or sheep--is tied to our hope to be leaders rather than followers and lead other nations through our righteousness. In particular, fish are said to have been the first witnesses to creation, and the fact that their eyes are always open also casts them as a symbol of God's ever-watching eyes. They also serve as an ancient symbol of abundance and fertility. Some Ashkenazi Jews do not eat fish on Rosh Hashanah because the Hebrew word for fish, dag, is too close to the word for worry, da'ag, preferring instead to eat sheep heads (although I'm not quite certain you can find them at your local butcher!).

Vegetarians, fret not! Lettuce heads can also be eaten instead of fish or sheep. As we say on this holiday, "May it be Your wish that we be as a head and not as a tail."

Meredith Jacobs is founder of modernjewishmom.com and author of "The Modern Jewish Mom's Guide to Shabbat."

Rosh Hashanah Desserts

What better time to eat sweet foods than dessert? Sweets like honey cake and tayglach (crunchy dough boiled in honey) have long stood as traditional Rosh Hashanah desserts. For a unique twist, try baking an apple pie with honey to enjoy a cooked version of this treat, which we usually eat raw. And remember, nuts are a no-no on Rosh Hashanah for many Jews, because they are bitter and we should only eat sweet foods in the New Year. Also the Hebrew word for nut is egoz. In Hebrew, every letter has a numerical value, and the numerical value of the word egoz equals the value of the word chet, which means sin--and we certainly don't want to add any sins during the most holy time of year!

I wish you a sweet, new year, full of good things to eat!

Meredith Jacobs is founder of modernjewishmom.com and author of "The Modern Jewish Mom's Guide to Shabbat."