Set Up You will need the following items: Candles Grape juice or wine A bowl of water Round h allah Rosh Hashanah Seder 1 Additional items / symbolic foods: Apples and honey A pomegranate (+ napkins!) Beets (can be made into a small dish as an appetizer) Raisins and celery Note: the symbolic foods are either symbolic (apples and honey for a sweet year) OR a pun (beets = enemies beaten). Make up your own symbolic food and share it at the Shirat Hayam Rosh Hashanah Seder. 1 Created by Rabbi Michael Ragozin, inspired by The Rabbinical Assembly, Rosh Hashanah Seder.
Candle Lighting Candles ב ר ו ך א ת ה י הו ה א לה ינ ו מ ל ך ה עול ם א ש ר ק ד ש נ ו ב מ צ ו ת י צ ו נ ו ל ה ד ל יק נר ש ל [ש ב ת ש ל] יום טוב: Ba rukh a tah A do nai, E lo hei nu me lekh ha olam, a sher ki de sha nu be mitz vo tav, ve tzi va nu le had lik ner shel [Shab bat v shel] Yom Tov. Blessed are You Adonai, our God, ruler of the universe, who has sanctified us with the divine commandments and commanded us to light the [Shabbat and] holiday flame. Sheheheyanu ב ר ו ך א ת ה י הו ה א לה ינ ו מ ל ך ה עול ם ש ה ח י נ ו ק י מ נ ו ה ג יע נ ו ל ז מ ן ה ז ה : Ba rukh a tah A do nai, E lo hei nu me lekh ha olam, she he h e ya nu v ki y ma nu v hig gi a nu la z man ha zeh. Blessed are You Adonai, our God, ruler of the universe, who has kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this moment. Bar khu Shema ב ר כ ו א ת י י ה מ ב ר ך ב ר ו ך י י ה מ ב ר ך ל עול ם ע ד Ba r'khu et A do nai ha m'vo rakh Ba rukh A do nai ha m'vo rakh l'o lam va ed Praise ADONAI, to whom all praise is directed. Praise ADONAI, to whom all praise is directed forever and ever. ש מ ע י ש ר אל, י י א להינ ו, י י א ח ד She ma Yis ra el A do nai e lo hei nu, A do nai e h ad. Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God,the Lord is One. 2
Shalom Aleikhem ש לום א ליכ ם, מ ל א כי ה ש ר ת, מ ל א כי ע ל יון, בוא כ ם לש לום, מ ל א כי ה שלום, מ ל א כי ע ל יון, ב ר כ ונ י לש לום, מ ל א כי ה ש לום, מ ל א כי ע ל יון, צא ת כ ם לש לום, מ ל א כי ה ש לום, מ ל א כי ע ל יון, Sha lom a lei khem, mal a khei ha sha ret, mal a khei el yon, mi melekh mal khei ha me la chim, ha ka dosh ba rukh hu. Bo a khem le sha lom, mal a khei ha sha lom, mal a khei el yon, mi me lekh mal khei ha me la chim, ha ka dosh ba rukh hu. Bar chu ni le sha lom, mal a khei ha sha lom, mal a khei el yon, mi me lekh mal khei ha me la chim, ha ka dosh ba rukh hu. Tzeit chem le sha lom, mal a khei ha sha lom, mal a khei el yon, mi me lekh mal khei ha me la chim, ha ka dosh ba rukh hu. Peace to you, ministering angels, angels of the Most High, of the highest Sovereign, the Holy and Blessed One. Come in peace, angels of peace Bless me with peace... Go in peace For a daughter: י ש ימ ך א להי ם כ ש ר ה ר ב ק ה ר חל לא ה. Blessing the Children For a son: י ש מ ך א לה ים כ א פ ר י ם כ מ נ ש ה. Ye sim khah e lo him ke ef rai yim ve khi me na shei May God make you like Efraim and Menashe. Ye si mekh e lo him ke sa ra riv ka ra hel ve lei a. May God make you Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah. For all: י ב ר כ ך י ה ה, י ש מ ר ך. י אר י ה ה פ נ י אל י ך, יח נ ך. י ש א י ה ה פ נ י אל י ך, י שם ל ך ש לום. Ye va re khe kha Adonai ve yish me re kha. Ya eir Adonai pa nav e lei kha vi hu ne kha. Yis sa Adonai pa nav e lei kha ve ya sem le kha sha lom. May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you, and grant you peace. 3
Kiddush On Shabbat begin here. י ה י ע ר ב י ה י ב ק ר יום ה ש ש י. י כ ל ו ה ש מ י ם ה א ר ץ כ ל צ ב א ם. י כ ל א לה ים ב יום ה ש ב יע י מ ל אכ תו א ש ר ע ש ה י ש ב ת ב יום ה ש ב יע י מ כ ל מ ל אכ תו א ש ר ע ש ה. י ב ר ך א לה ים א ת יום ה ש ב יע י י ק דש או תו כ י בו ש ב ת מ כ ל מ ל אכ תו א ש ר ב ר א א לה ים ל ע שו ת. On weekdays begin here. ס ב ר י מ ר נ ן ח בר י ב ר ו ך א ת ה יי, א להינ ו מ ל ך ה עול ם, בורא פ ר י ה ג פ ן. On Shabbat include the words in parentheses. ב ר ו ך א ת ה יי א להינ ו מ ל ך ה עול ם, א ש ר ב ח ר ב נ ו מ כ ל ע ם רומ מ נ ו מ כ ל ל שון, ק ד ש נ ו ב מ צ ו ת י. ת ת ן ל נ ו יי א להינ ו ב א ה ב ה א ת-יום )ה ש ב ת ה ז ה א ת-יום( ה ז כ רון ה ז ה, יום )ז כ רון( ת ר וע ה )ב א ה ב ה( מ ק ר א ק ד ש, זכ ר ל יצ יא ת מ צ ר י ם. כ י ב נ ו ב ח ר ת או ת נ ו ק ד ש ת מ כ ל ה ע מ ים, וד ב ר ך א מ ת ק י ם ל ע ד. ב ר ו ך א ת ה יי, מ ל ך ע ל כ ל ה א ר ץ מ ק דש )ה ש ב ת (י ש ר אל יום ה ז כ רון. On Shabbat begin here. Va ye hi e rev va ye hi vo ker yom ha shi shi. Va ye khu lu ha sha ma yim ve ha a rets ve khol tse va am. Va ye khal e lo him ba yom ha she vi i me lakh to a sher a sa. Va yish bot ba yom ha sh vi i mi kol m lakh to a sher a sa. Va ye va rekh e lo him et yom ha she vi i va ye ka deish o to, ki vo sha vat mi kol me lakh to, a sher ba rah e lo him la a sot. On weekdays begin here. Sav ri ha ve rai/ma ra nan Barukh Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha olam, borei p ri hagafen. On Shabbat include the words in parentheses. Ba rukh A tah A do nai E lo hei nu Me lekh ha o lam, a sher ba h ar ba nu mi kol am, v ro m ma nu mi kol la shon, v ki d sha nu b mitz vo tav, va ti ten la nu A do nai E lo hei nu b a ha vah et yom (ha shab bat ha zeh v et yom) ha zi ka ron ha zeh, yom (zikh ron) t ru ah (b a ha vah) mi kra ko desh, ze kher li tzi at mitz ra yim. Ki va nu va h ar ta v o ta nu ki dash ta mi kol ha a mim, u d va r kha e met v kay yam la ad Ba rukh A tah A do nai, me lekh al kol ha a retz m ka desh (ha shab bat v ) yis ra el v yom ha zi ka ron. On Shabbat begin here. And evening came, then morning came: the sixth day. The heavens and the earth were completed and [so were] all their hosts. And God completed, by the seventh day, God s work which God had done; and God abstained on the seventh day from all God s work which God had done. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, for on it God abstained from all God s work which God had created to do. 4
On weekdays, begin here: With the assent of teachers and friends: Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, Who chose us from among all people, and exalted us above all (tongues) languages, and sanctified us with God s commandments. And [You] gave us, Adonai, our God, in love (this Shabbat day, and) this day of Remembrance, a day for (the day of remembrance of) sounding the shofar (with love), a day of holy assembly commemorating the exodus from Egypt. For us have You chosen and us have You sanctified from among all peoples; and Your word is true and enduring forever Blessed are You Adonai, King over all the earth Sanctifier (of Shabbat and) of Israel and the Day of Remembrance: Sheheheyanu ב ר ו ך א ת ה י י א להינ ו מ ל ך ה עול ם, ש ה ח י נ ו ק י מ נ ו ה ג יע נ ו ל ז מ ן ה ז ה. Barukh Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha olam, sheheh eyanu, v kiy manu, v higi anu lazman hazeh. Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, King of the Universe Who has kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this season. Hamotzi Handwashing ב ר ו ך א ת ה י י א להינ ו מ ל ך ה עול ם, א ש ר ק ד ש נ ו ב מ צ ו ת י, צ ו נ ו ע ל נ ט יל ת י ד י ם. Ba rukh a tah A do nai, e lo hey nu me lekh ha olam, a sher ki de sha nu be mitz vo tav, ve tzi va nu al ne ti lat ya day yim. Praised are You Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who instilled in us the holiness of mitzvot by commanding us to rinse our hands. Blessing before the Meal ב ר ו ך א ת ה י י א להינ ו מ ל ך ה עול ם, ה מוצ יא ל ח ם מ ן ה א ר ץ. Ba rukh a tah A do nai, e lo hey nu me lekh ha olam, ha mo tzi le hem min ha a retz. Praised are You Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. 5
Symbolic Foods Apples ב ר ו ך א ת ה י י א להינ ו מ ל ך ה עול ם, בורא פ ר י ה עץ Ba rukh a tah A do nai, e lo hei nu me lekh ha o lam, bo rei p ri ha eitz. Blessed are you Adonai, our God, ruler of the universe, Who creates fruit from the tree. י ה י ר צון מ ל פ נ י ך י י א להינ ו אל הי א בו תינ ו, ש ת ח דש ע לינ ו ש נ ה טוב ה ומ ת וק ה Y hi ra tzon mi l fa ne kha A do nai e lo hei nu ve lo hei a vo tei nu, she t h ad deish a lei nu sha nah to vah u m tu kah. May it be Your will, Adonai our God, and God of our ancestors, to renew for us a new, sweet, and good year. Pomegranate י ה י ר צון מ ל פ נ י ך י י א להינ ו אל הי א בו תינ ו, ש נ ר ב ה ז כיו ת כ ר מון Y hi ra tzon mi l fa ne kha A do nai e lo hei nu ve lo hei a vo tei nu, she nir beh z khu yot k ri mon. May it be Your will, Adonai our God, and God of our ancestors, that our merits increase as [the seeds of] a pomegranate. Beets י ה י ר צון מ ל פ נ י ך י י א להינ ו א להי א בו תינ ו, ש י ס ת ל ק ו אוי בינ ו שונ אינ ו כ ל מ ב ק שי ר ע תנ ו Y hi ra tzon mi l fa ne kha A do nai e lo hei nu ve lo hei a vo tei nu, she yis tal l ku o y vei nu v so n ei nu v khol m vak shei ra a tei nu. May it be Your will, Adonai our God, and the God of our ancestors, that our enemies, haters and those who wish evil upon us shall be beaten (lit. removed). Raisin and Celery May it be Your will, Adonai our God, and the God of our ancestors, that we merit a raise in salary. 6
Tzedekah Discussion 1. Where should I give? What are my giving priorities? Traditionally, Judaism identified the following: a. Redeeming captives or other matters of life and death b. Supporting the hungry or sick c. Paying for weddings for the poor d. Supporting Jewish education and Torah scholars e. Contributing to synagogues, Batei Midrash (Torah study halls), mikvaot (ritual baths), and other Jewish communal needs Questions a. In this list what s most important? What else is important? b. What s missing from this list? c. Are missing priorities a sub-category or independent? If independent, where in the hierarchy would you put them? Suggested Answers a. Most important: basic human needs. Also important: Jewish education, community, and culture. b. Missing Some examples include: a. Environment (a healthy environment and addressing climate change is this a matter of life & death / basic human needs or an independent category?) b. Political & social reform (e.g. the Equal Justice Initiative, which is committed to ending mass incarceration, could be in the category of freeing captives) c. Arts (e.g. supporting the symphony might be its own category) 2. To whom should I give? Rabbi Yosef Karo writes: the poor of his house come before the poor of his city, and the poor of his city take preference over the poor from other cities, and the poor of the land of Israel take precedent over the poor of the Diaspora. How does this impact our giving priorities? 3. How should I give? Do you want to provide direct assistance (tzedakah) or support an organization working systematically to create a more just society (tzedek)? Within the category of direct assistance do you want to give cash directly (see https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/30/your-money/philanthropy-charity-givingcoronavirus.html) or to an organization that provides basic needs and services? To vet American charities, I use https://www.charitynavigator.org/. I don t know charities in Israel. 7