The Jewish new year, apples, honey and final redemption
In less than a week, Jewish people across the globe will gather with friends and family to joyfully celebrate Rosh Hashana followed 10 days later by Yom Kippur. Most families have special recipes which have been passed down from generation to generation and we tire happily in the kitchen cooking for hours. This includes the finest brisket, chicken, lamb, fish, fresh challah, homemade desserts, and soups. Of course, what would Rosh Hashana be without the staple dish of apples and honey? Ask any kindergartner why we eat this, and they will all say this represents a sweet new year. On the surface, this is a very accurate representation. However, as with everything in our religion, there is a much deeper meaning.
One of the yearnings every Jew craves is the coming of Elijah the Prophet to blow the final Shofar blast announcing the imminent coming of the Mashiach. In fact, we ask for this multiple times daily in our Tefilot (prayers) and is further solidified as the 12th principle of faith written by Maimonides. One of the most important missions the Mashiach is tasked with is an ingathering of all Jews to the land of Israel (Ezekiel 37:21-28). And we all know; the Torah says Israel is a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8). However, it is not bee honey – it is date honey. So, this begs the question – why is the prevalent modern custom among Jews bee honey? There are several reasons. Perhaps the most glaring and painful truth is we have not merited the Mashiach and are not on this level. When we are redeemed, perhaps the minhag (custom) will switch to date honey inside the land of Israel.
After a closer dissection at how bees live, it can also be a prism on how a Jew should live. Each bee is a “worker” trying to perfect their hive. Each bee knows their mission and always executes it to the best of their ability. This is exactly how we should live. Strive to serve Hashem to the best of our ability and do our part to make the world a better place. If a bee wanders from the hive, they have virtually no chance at survival. A Jew is also spiritually dependent on a community. If a single bee is attacked, it is as if every bee is attacked and the repercussions for those who attack are swift and sometimes fatal. This also mirrors how Jews should live. If one of us is attacked or is in pain, the entire community shares this pain. There is also a custom among some Jews to use a raw honeycomb because the Hebrew word for raw is “chai,” which is also a homonym for “life,” and our Rosh Hashanah wish is to be inscribed in the Book of Life for the year to come.
Unfortunately, we have a sad past and are the targets of mass genocide. This is where the “stinger” is felt most. Even though we have a very comfortable life in America, anti-Semitism is on the rise domestically and is near dangerous levels in Europe. When Jews, Israeli civilians and soldiers are targeted for protecting our biblical homeland, the reaction from Jewish communities around the globe is united support. We take care of each other because no one else will. For that short moment, there are no Jewish Democrats or Jewish Republicans. Only proud Jews. If we were united like this for every task we performed, the Torah teaches no force would be able to stop us as a people. After each of the first five days of creation concluded, Hashem called it “good.” However, after the 6th and final day, it was called “very good.” It might seem antithetical to the Jewish ethos of life, but one of the meanings of the modifier “very” refers to death. The lesson is clear; we trust Hashem’s decisions even though the reality of life can be brutal. However, we almost always have the last laugh. We not only survived but did so despite the Babylonians, the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Persians, the vile Nazis and every other fundamentalist group trying to exterminate us. The sweet honey represents at the time of redemption we will be more privileged into the innerworkings of Hashem and will fully comprehend his plan. Every obtuse puzzle piece will fit perfectly.
Another Rosh Hashana custom is to eat a fish head during the evening meal on the first night. The main explanation for this is because we want to emulate the head. We want to be known for making good decisions, using logic to problem solve and exercising sound judgement in everything we do. Fish also never close their eyes, neither does Hashem. He sees all. In a symbolic way, looking into fisheyes mirrors looking into Hashem’s. He knows our inner thoughts and is always with us.
Fish also symbolize fertility and abundance due to the way they swim together in large schools and multiply quickly. In fact, this is the blessing our patriarch Jacob bestowed upon his grandsons Ephraim and Menasha – to proliferate like fish in the midst of the land (Genesis 48:16). However, this is a very perplexing analogy. Fish live in the water and have gills while humans live on land and have lungs. It is two completely different ecosystems. A more correct saying would be proliferating like fish in the ocean. However, Jacob’s blessing was no accident, it was very intentional. The fact Jews are still here thousands of years after major empires have come and gone is nothing short of a miracle. By every measurable metric, we should have died out long ago. Aside from the external forces we battle, our own intrinsic Yetzer Harah (evil inclination, commonly referred to as Satan) is tempting us to stray away from Hashem. It is only through his love and divine protection we can survive. Therefore, Hashem’s divine protection is similar to fish living on land – miraculous. May we all merit to be inscribed in the Book of Life this upcoming year. Shanah tovah.
