Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! May your year be sweet and filled with joy!

Wait a minute... It's September...New Year? Yes! It's the Jewish New Year, otherwise known as Rosh HaShanah, the start of the "High Holidays" [this holiday period lasts ten days and concludes with Yom Kippur], "Days of Awe" or simply 5784.

While the Gregorian calendar ends in December and follows the sun cycles, other calendars follow the moon cycles. The Jewish calendar is based on both the moon and the sun, making it a lunisolar calendar. It's also adjusted every few years by adding an additional month to keep it synchronized with the solar/agricultural cycle, so sometimes there are 13 months in its calendar year.

So is it time to break out the Champagne, noise makers, and funny sunglasses that say 5784? Well, you could if that's your thing, but Rosh HaShanah (which literally translates to "Head of the Year" in Hebrew) has a deeper meaning than just changing the calendar. New Year is a time of reflection (with a heavy dose of self-reflection), forgiveness, and renewal for most Jewish folks. It's also a time to wish others a sweet year filled with joy and promise. One of the best ways to celebrate Jewish New Year is with food.

Honey figures high in most Rosh HaShanah recipes, either for dipping (apples and hallah bread) or added to honey cakes, pastries, and all manner of treats. Dates are also popular. On the second night, many people enjoy new fruits of the season, such as pomegranate, but it can also be any new or exotic fruit. This tradition has become a way to taste the year's newness by enjoying something new and unfamiliar.

The library has a wonderful collection of cookbooks on Jewish holiday cooking and Jewish and Kosher cookbooks. In addition, our rare books collection includes Jewish cookbooks that date back to the 19th Century and can be used for research and reference. Make a new dish for the New Year!

Shanah Tovah! שנה טובה! and Tzku l’shaneem rabot! תזכו לשנים רבות!