Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah with Kol Ami
ROSH HASHANAH DAY 1 service
Rosh Hashanah Resources
During the month of Elul it is customary to read Psalm 27, “To David – the Lord is my light,” twice daily. This practice is relatively new, evidently some 200 years old.
Recipe: Olive Oil Apple Cake with Spiced Sugar
1 cup mild extra-virgin olive oil, plus
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 1/2 cups (185 g) all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 large eggs
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup (100 g) (packed) brown sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
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Preheat oven to 350°F. Pour about 1 Tbsp. oil into a 9x5” loaf pan and coat
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bottom and sides with fingertips. Sprinkle granulated sugar onto sides and bottom of pan to lightly coat.
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Grate apples, peel and all, on the large holes of a box grater. Gather apples in a clean kitchen towel and wring out excess liquid. Be aggressive! You want them as dry as possible when they go into the batter.
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Whisk cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, and ginger in a medium bowl. Transfer 1/4 tsp. spice mixture to a small bowl; set aside. Add flour and baking powder to remaining spice mixture and whisk to combine.
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Whisk together eggs, egg yolks, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl. Continue whisking vigorously until lightened in color and thickened. Whisking with one hand and pouring with the other, slowly stream 1 cup oil into egg mixture until combined. Gently fold flour mixture into whipped eggs with a flexible rubber spatula just until combined, taking care not to overmix.
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Fluff up grated apples and scatter over batter. Gently fold to incorporate.
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Transfer batter to prepared pan; smooth top. Add 2 tsp. granulated sugar to reserved spice mixture and mix to combine. Sprinkle spiced sugar evenly over top of batter.
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Bake cake until deep golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 60–70 minutes. Let cake cool in pan. Run a butter knife or offset spatula along edge of cake to loosen and invert onto a platter.
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Do Ahead: Cake can be made 3 days ahead (the flavor gets slightly more intense each day). Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Sat, February 22 2025
24 Sh'vat 5785
Rosh Hashanah Traditions
- Dipping apples in honey in anticipation of a sweet new year.
- Blowing the shofar
- Greeting: L’Shana Tova U’Metoka (“le-shahna tow-VAH oo-meh-TOH-kah”) or to a good and sweet new year
Holiday Symbols
Apple and Honey
Jews dip apples in honey on Rosh Hashanah in order to wish for a sweet New Year, that's why apples and honey (together and separately) are the most recognized symbol of the holiday.
Pomegranates
This flower-shaped red fruit packed with ruby seeds is also closely associated with Rosh Hashanah. The abundance of seeds in the pomegranate represents prosperity or a desire to perform many mitzvahs (commandments) in the coming year.
Shofar
Blowing the shofar is another prominante custom during the Days of Awe (from Rosh Hashanah until the end of Yom Kippur) and often is associated with them.
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