The Rosh Hashana night meal is filled with its own customs, which begin after kiddush and the blessing over the challah, which vary from house to house and vary according to different communities and ethnic groups. What they have in common is the hope for a better and sweeter year. And they are expressed in the simanim, the symbolic foods.
This is traditionally what one wishes for before eating each of the simanim:
Date
May it be your will, our God and God of our ancestors, that our enemies and detractors will cease along with all who seek to trouble us
Rubia (narrow and elongated bean)
May it be your will, our God and God of our ancestors, that our righteousness will multiply and that you will love us.
Karti (Leek)
May it be your will, our God and God of our ancestors, to cut off our enemies and all who seek to trouble us
Silka (Beet or beetroot leaves)
May it be your will, our God and God of our ancestors, that our enemies and detractors disappear along with all who seek to trouble us.
Pumpkin
May it be your will, our God and God of our ancestors, to tear up the evil decrees against us and declare our righteousness.
Pomegranate
May it be your will, our God and God of our ancestors, that we be full of mitzvot like a pomegranate.
Apple in honey
May it be your will, our God and God of our ancestors, to renew for us a year sweet as honey, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.
Head of a fish or a sheep
May it be your will, our God and God of our ancestors, that we will be as the head and not as the tail.
Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Rimon has suggested some alternative messages for the simanim for this year:
At this time, when the people of Israel are facing difficult and complex challenges, the customs of Rosh Hashana take on a deeper meaning. The simanim we eat on the eve of the holiday provides an opportunity not only to ask for personal blessings but also to pray for the entire people of Israel, for the hostages, for the soldiers, for the injured, and the bereaved families.
Therefore, this year, we can add a short request after each symbolic food for the war victims and the soldiers. Let us try to pray and elevate ourselves through the power of the faith of the people of Israel, through the heroism of the soldiers and all security forces, and through our privilege of being a generation of redemption, a generation of Israel's return to its land. This generation has merited a state and an army after thousands of years.
Tamar (Date)
תָּמָר
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ וֵא-לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁיִּתַּמּוּ אוֹיְבֵינוּ וְשׂוֹנְאֵינוּ וְכָל מְבַקְשֵׁי רָעָתֵנוּ, שֶׁחַיָּלֵי צַהַ"ל יְנַצְּחוּ אֶת הָאוֹיֵב, וְשֶׁיַּחְזְרוּ בְּרִיאִים וּשְׁלֵמִים בַּנֶּפֶשׁ וּבַגּוּף.
May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that our enemies, haters, and all who seek to harm us come to an end, that the IDF soldiers defeat the enemy, and that they return healthy and whole in body and spirit.
Karti (Leek)
כָּרַתִּי (כְּרֵשָׁה)
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ וֵא-לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁיִּכָּרְתוּ אוֹיְבֵינוּ וְשׂוֹנְאֵינוּ, וְתַכְרִית רֶשַׁע מִן הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁלֹּא יוּכְלוּ לִפְגֹּעַ בְּעַם יִשְׂרָאֵל לְרָעָה.
May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that our enemies and haters be cut off, and that You eradicate evil from the world, so that they cannot harm the people of Israel.
Silka (Beet)
סִלְקָא (סֶלֶק)
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ וֵא-לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁיִּסְתַּלְּקוּ אוֹיְבֵינוּ וְשׂוֹנְאֵינוּ וְכָל מְבַקְּשֵׁי רָעָתֵנוּ, וְשֶׁיָּשׁוּבוּ בִּמְהֵרָה לְבָתֵּיהֶם כָּל הַמְּפֻנִּים מֵהַדָּרוֹם וּמֵהַצָּפוֹן.
May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that our enemies, haters, and all who seek to harm us depart, and that all those evacuated from the south and north return quickly to their homes.
Kara (Pumpkin/Gourd)
קָרָא (דְּלַעַת)
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ וֵא-לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁתִּקְרַע רֹעַ גְּזַר דִּינֵנוּ, וְשֶׁתִּשְׁלַח מְהֵרָה רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם לְכָל הַפְּצוּעִים.
May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that You tear up the evil of our verdict, and that You quickly send complete healing from heaven to all the wounded.
Gezer (Carrot)
גֶּזֶר
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ וֵא-לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁתִּגְזֹר עָלֵינוּ גְּזֵרוֹת טוֹבוֹת, וְתָשִׁיב אֶת הַחֲטוּפִים בִּמְהֵרָה, בְּרִיאִים וּשְׁלֵמִים בְּנַפְשָׁם וּבְגוּפָם.
May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that You decree good decrees upon us, and return the hostages quickly, healthy and whole in body and spirit.
Rimon (Pomegranate)
רִמּוֹן
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ וֵא-לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁנִּהְיֶה מְלֵאֵי מִצְווֹת כְּרִמּוֹן, וְשֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לִרְאוֹת טוֹב בְּכָל אֶחָד וְאַחַת מֵעַם יִשְׂרָאֵל.
May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that we be as full of mitzvot as a pomegranate, and that we merit to see good in every one of the people of Israel.
Tapuach Bidvash (Apple in Honey)
תַּפּוּחַ בִּדְבַשׁ
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ וֵא-לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁתְּחַדֵּשׁ עָלֵינוּ שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה, וְתִתֵּן מְתִיקוּת וְשִׂמְחָה גַּם בְּקֶרֶב הַמִּשְׁפָּחוֹת שֶׁאִבְּדוּ אֶת יַקִּירֵיהֶם הַקְּדוֹשִׁים.
May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that You renew for us a good and sweet year, and grant sweetness and joy also among the families who have lost their holy loved ones.
Rosh shel Dag\Keves (Fish\Ram’s Head)
רֹאשׁ שֶׁל דָּג\כֶּבֶשׂ
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ וֵא-לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁנִּהְיֶה לְרֹאשׁ וְלֹא לְזָנָב, וְשֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לָלֶכֶת קוֹמְמִיּוּת בְּאַרְצֵנוּ בִּזְקִיפוּת קוֹמָה, בְּשָׁלוֹם וּבְבִטְחָה.
May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that we be as the head and not as the tail, and that we merit to walk upright in our land with pride, in peace and security.
Fish
דגים
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ וֵא-לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁנִּפְרֶה וְנִרְבֶּה כְּדָגִים תֵּן בָּנוּ כֹּחַ לְהִתְאַחֵד וּלְהִתְלַכֵּד וְתִמָּלֵא הָאָרֶץ דֵּעָה אֶת ה' כַּמַּיִם לַיָּם מְכַסִּים.
May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that we be fruitful and multiply like fish.
Give us the strength to unite and bond, and may the earth be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Rubia (Beans/Fenugreek)
רוביא (לוביא)
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ וֵא-לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁיִּרְבּוּ זְכוּיוֹתֵינוּ וּתְלַבְּבֵנוּ
שְׁמוֹר וְהָגֵן עַל הַיְּהוּדִים בַּתְּפוּצוֹת מִפְּנֵי שׂוֹנְאֵיהֶם, וְתֵן בְּלִבָּם וּבְלֵב כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֹז רוּחַ וְחִבּוּר לָעָם וְלָאָרֶץ
May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that our merits increase and that You encourage us. Protect and defend the Jews in the diaspora from their enemies, and give them and all of Israel strength of spirit and connection to the people and the land.
Amit sofer with possible World record Shofar
(Ilan Braidman)
One may add:
We give thanks before You, Lord our God and God of our fathers,
That we have merited to live in a generation of redemption, and that we have merited to see the revival of our state.
That we have merited to see the bravery of our people, and that we have merited miracles and wonders as You promised through Your servants, the prophets.
May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that this coming year for us and for all Your people, the house of Israel, be a year of light and joy, a year of unity and love.
May all the hostages return quickly to the embrace of their families, healthy and whole in body and spirit, and those who are no longer among the living be brought to a Jewish burial.
Grant peace and tranquility in all the borders of our land, strengthen the hands of our soldiers and the defenders of our people.
Give strength and joy to the bereaved families, and send complete healing to all the wounded.
Return the residents of the north and south to their homes, with joy and security.
Rabbi Yosef Tzvi RimonJerusalem College of TechnologyPut in our hearts that we may merit to see good in our people, in our state, and in our families.
Guide our leaders with good counsel and plant unity and love among us, speedily in our days, and let us say, Amen.
May it be Your will that we merit to see the joy of Zion and Jerusalem, with the coming of our righteous Messiah and the building of our Holy Temple, speedily in our days, Amen.
ניתן להוסיף:
מוֹדִים אֲנַחְנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ וֵא-לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ,
שֶׁזָּכִינוּ לִחְיוֹת בְּדוֹר שֶׁל גְּאֻלָּה, וְשֶׁזָּכִינוּ לִרְאוֹת בִּתְקוּמַת מְדִינָתֵנוּ.
שֶׁזָּכִינוּ לִרְאוֹת בִּגְבוּרַת עַמֵּנוּ, וְשֶׁזָּכִינוּ לְנִסִּים וּלְנִפְלָאוֹת כְּפִי שֶׁהִבְטַחְתָּנוּ בְּיַד עֲבָדֶיךָ הַנְּבִיאִים.
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ, ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ וֵא-לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתְּהֵא הַשָּׁנָה הַזֹּאת הַבָּאָה עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, שְׁנַת אוֹרָה וְשִׂמְחָה, שְׁנַת אַחְדוּת וְאַהֲבָה.
שֶׁיָּשׁוּבוּ בִּמְהֵרָה כָּל הַחֲטוּפִים לְחֵיק מִשְׁפְּחוֹתֵיהֶם, בְּרִיאִים וּשְׁלֵמִים בְּגוּפָם וּבְנַפְשָׁם,
וְאֵלּוּ שֶׁאֵינָם עוֹד בֵּין הַחַיִּים יוּבְאוּ לְקֶבֶר יִשְׂרָאֵל.
תֵּן שָׁלוֹם וְשַׁלְוָה בְּכָל גְּבוּלוֹת אַרְצֵנוּ, חַזֵּק אֶת יְדֵי חַיָּלֵינוּ וּמְגִנֵּי עַמֵּנוּ.
תֵּן כּוֹחוֹת וְשִׂמְחָה לַמִּשְׁפָּחוֹת הַשַּׁכּוּלוֹת, וּשְׁלַח רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה לְכָל הַפְּצוּעִים.
הָשֵׁב אֶת תּוֹשָׁבֵי הַצָּפוֹן וְהַדָּרוֹם לְבָתֵּיהֶם, בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְבִטְחָה.
תֵּן בְּלִבֵּנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לִרְאוֹת טוֹב בְּעַמֵּנוּ, בִּמְדִינָתֵנוּ וּבְמִשְׁפַּחְתֵּנוּ.
תַּקֵּן בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה אֶת מַנְהִיגֵנוּ וְתִטַּע אַחְדוּת וְאַהֲבָה בְּתוֹכֵנוּ, בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.
יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לִרְאוֹת בְּשִׂמְחַת צִיּוֹן וִירוּשָׁלַיִם, בְּבִיאַת מְשִׁיחַ צִדְקֵנוּ וּבְבִנְיַן בֵּית מִקְדָּשֵׁנוּ בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ, אָמֵן.
- Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Rimon is the Rosh Yeshiva of the Jerusalem College of Technology, President of the World Mizrachi Movement, head of the "Sulamot" association and the Chief Rabbi of Gush Etzion