Eating a fish head on Rosh HaShanah

There are many customs in Judiasm which affect one’s behavior and one’s spirit. For some 2500 years, Jews have been eating special foods on Rosh HaShanah, types of food that symbolize various things, for example, that we should have a sweet and fruitful year. The Jewish custom going back to the days of the Talmud is that we eat fish on Rosh HaShanah to symbolize that we should multiply like fish, and also that G-d should watch us with a open eye, since fish keep their eyes open, and in addition we serve the head of the fish to symbolize that we should be a head and not a tail. This doesn’t raise an issue of negative pride, because when a person knows that everything he/she has is from G-d, then even when he/she is in a position of leadership, it is also in a manner of humility, as we find with Moses, who was the greatest leader and nevertheless the Torah describes him as the most humble person on earth.

 

When we learn Torah and keep the mitzvot, we can be a light unto the nations, and this is what is meant by being a ‘head.’

 

May you be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet New Year!

 

כתיבה וחתימה טובה