Instructions: One of the lesser-known customs for Rosh Hashanah involves conducting a

"Seder" for the New Year. The custom, Sephardic in origin, involves participants in creating puns and word-plays to express their hopes for the year to come. Each prayer begins with the formula "Yehi ratzon," or

The seder involves several specific foods that are considered symbolically important, either because the food itself symbolizes a blessing, or because the foods name connotes or sounds similar to words that indicate a blessing. These foods, and the accompanying blessings, include:

Leeks: The Hebrew word for leeks is "karti," which sounds similar to the word "yikartu," to cut off or destroy. We ask God, "Yehi Ratzon (May it be your will) that our enemies be cut off." Leek Fritters are a tasty way to enjoy this symbolic food.

Beets: The Hebrew word for beets, "silka," sounds similar to the word "siluk," which means "removal." We ask, therefore,

Fish: Fish, an ancient symbol of fertility and abundance, are present as a symbol of our wish that our merits may multiply like the fish of the sea. Some families, however, do not include fish on the table, because the Hebrew word for fish, "dag," is so similar to the word "deaga," or worry.

There is no specific "Yehi ratzon" associated with fish.

Sheeps Head: The sheeps head symbolizes our hope that we may become

"like the head, and not the tail." Traditionally, the sheeps brains were removed and served as part of the meal (Claudia Roden writes in The Book of Jewish Food that brains and other types of offal were very popular in many Sephardic communities.) While modern sensibilities may not take to the idea of displaying a sheeps head as a holiday centerpiece, you may want to consider an alternative proposed by the Canadian Jewish News: Use a head of lettuce instead.

Gourd: The Hebrew word for gourd, "krah," sounds both like the word for "proclaim" and the word for "tear" or

"rip." There are thus two customs for this yehi ratzon: One asks

"May it be your will that our merits be proclaimed before you," and the other asks "May it be your will that the decree for our sentence be torn up."

Fenugreek: The Hebrew word for fenugreek is "rubia," similiar to the word "yirbu," which means "increase." The yehi ratzon for fenugreek, then, is to ask "may our merits increase." Unfortunately, this item may be difficult to procure, except at an Indian or Chinese ethnic market. This obscure spice is a member of the pea family, according to The Joy of Cooking. Joy describes its aroma as "a pungent blend of celery and maple," and notes that the flavor is "bitter until cooked."

Dates: Two separate interpretations of the blessing for this food exist. One notes that the Hebrew word for dates is "temarim," which sounds similar to the word "yitamu," or "end." We ask, therefore, that our enmity ends in the year to come.

Talmudic authorities debated whether these foods were to be eaten or simply displayed on the table. Apparently, our ancestors simply recited blessings over the foods, touching each one as it was blessed in turn. Today, however, it is customary to recite the appropriate "Yehi ratzon" blessing over each food, and to sample each in turn.

The foods listed above, while traditional, are only a stepping-off point for formulating your own Seder for Rosh Hashanah. Like many other Jewish traditions, this one is open to improvisation and personalization. Participants in the Rosh Hashanah meal are encouraged to make up their own food-related puns-for example, some may stuff some raisins in a stalk of celery and request a

"raise in salary." If youre entertaining guests or seeking a way to get children involved in Jewish rituals, this "punning" game may become a favorite way to greet the New Year.

LShanah Tovah!

If you would like to email yourself the recipe for later use, or share the recipe with your friends or family, enter the email addresses below and this recipe will be emailed to you and others as well.