Question:
The simanim are usually designated because of some symbolism in their names even if they are not sweet, yet the apple and honey are not eaten because of their names, but because of what they symbolically represent.
1. However, the reasons seem to be unclear why specifically an apple with honey if we want a sweet year? Why not honey without the apple?
- Can we use apple sauce instead of a piece of apple?
- Not all apples are that sweet, green apples are more tangy, and we are not supposed to eat anything with a bitter taste?
- Can we add other foods depending on either their sweetness or their names in whatever language?
5. Are all nuts forbidden on Rosh HaShana, because in Hebrew egoz refers to a specific nut which is called walnut in English, whereas in English all types of nuts are referred to generally as nuts? This is strange because walnuts are also called egozei melech, and that should seemingly be a very good siman on Rosh HaShana.
6. Most juices such as orange, grapefruit and pineapple juices, are considered bitter and not to be drank on Rosh HaShana, but what about apple juice?
7. Can apple juice be used for the simanim instead of an apple?
8. Can the grape juice for kiddush be considered a siman, especially if someone does not have any of the other simanim?
Answer:
Hello,
The source for why we eat symbolic foods on Rosh Hashana such as dates, leek, gourd, beets, and black-eyed peas, is a Gemara, (Horiyos 12a, Krisus 6a), and the reason is because their fruits and vegetables, grow quickly, and some of the mare sweet, therefore it is symbolic to eat them. Additionally, we also say a prayer, when eating them, that Hashem should send us a sweet year, destroy our enemies, make us fruitful etc.
- The reason of the eating an apple dipped in honey is based in kabbalah[1], because Gan Eden is sometimes referred to as the garden of apples, and the honey is to symbolize that the ruling of the judgement, should be sweetened.
- While I haven’t seen anyone talk about this, it stands to reason that applesauce can also be used, however it is difficult to dip applesauce into honey.
- It is hard to say that tangy is off limits, however there are people who abstain[2] from eating sour fruits, such as ones that are still unripe.
- Yes, you can add other foods, depending on their name, which have a positive connotation to them. An example of this is that some people eat carrots, which are called merin in Yiddish, which can also be interpreted as being fruitful. When I was a child there was a common joke that we should eat raisins and celery, which sounds similar to a “raise in salary”.
- There are two reasons[3] why we abstain from eating nuts of Rosh Hashana, one is because the gematria (numeric value) of egoz is the same as “chet” sin. Being that we want to remove ourselves from sin to the extent that we don’t even eat a food that has the same gematria! Another reason is because it causes the person to have phlegm, which can disturb our concentration while davening. Although the term egoz in the seforim refers to walnuts, the custom is to refrain from all nuts. (It would be interesting to check if the term egozi melech is a Hebrew term or if it merely Ivrit.)
- Lemon juice is bitter, but I don’t think that this is the case with orange, and pineapple juice, etc.
- I can’t answer you, as I never heard of anyone doing this.
- In what way would grape juice be a siman?
Best wishes
Sources:
[1] ע' דרכו משה ס' תקפג, וכן בפסקי תשובות שמביא עוד טעמים בזה.
[2] מטא אפרים ס' תקפג סע' ג', וס' ת"ר סע' ו', ופסקי תשובות ס' תקפג אות ה'.
[3] שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות ראש השנה סימן תקפג סעיף ב
הגה: יש מדקדקים שלא לאכול אגוזים, שאגוז בגימטריא חטא, ועוד שהן מרבים כיחה וניעה ומבטלים התפלה (מהרי"ל).
