On Rosh Hashanna, we have the custom to eat certain foods as “simanim” – significant omens. Customs vary as to what foods we use, but the omens commonly include an apple, fenugreek or black-eyed peas or carrots, leek or cabbage, beets, dates, gourd, pomegranate, fish, and the head of a sheep or fish. All these foods symbolize different desires for the coming year. For each of the special foods, we say a prayer that expresses the symbolism of that specific food.
The Shla HaKodosh writes that these omens arouse in a person a desire for repentance and prayer. But why these specific items?
Historically, the specific items that we use stem from tradition rather than from Jewish law. On the surface level, it is the name of each food which appears to express its symbolism. For example, the herb fenugreek is called “rubia” in Aramaic, a word that also means increase and abundance. Those who eat fenugreek express their desire that our merits should increase. The view of the halachic authority Magen Avraham allows the alternative use of another food in place of fenugreek, whose meaning, perhaps in a different language, also carries the same implication of increase.
On a deeper level, each of these omens has a kabbalistic significance, the details of which are outside our scope. However, we can suggest a down-to-earth way in which we can relate to some of these omens and make sure that they have the desired effect. We know that G-d judges us on Rosh Hashanna based on the way that we relate to other people. When we eat a sweet apple, dipped in even sweeter honey, we ask G-d to grant us with a sweet year. While we are eating the apple and expressing the prayer, we can take upon ourselves to behave towards other people with the sweetness that we taste. This commitment that we take upon ourselves while we eat the apple can give us added hope for a sweet judgement..
