As an Italian Jew I
always knew my traditions were different from my Ashkenazi friends whose
families came from Central and Eastern Europe. So different that I still blush
when I think of the time when I included couscous at my Passover seder, much to
the horror of my best friend’s Polish grandmother! There were many customs for
Passover, Chanukah and even Purim that our Sephardic/marranos family brought
from the Old Country and over the years I thought I knew them all.
Later on when I
accepted a rabbinate in Italy, I was surprised to learn that one important
Italian Jewish tradition never made it from Italy to America. As rabbi for a
small pluralistic community, I was stunned to learn that for Italian Jews, Erev
Rosh HaShanah did not include a
synagogue service. Instead the night before the New Year was dedicated to the
Rosh HaShanah seder!
From north to south,
from the “thigh” of the Italian “boot” all the way down to the “toe,” Italian
Jews gather around the family table, and just as we do at Passover, at the Rosh
HaShanah seder we share symbolic foods, blessings, stories, poems and songs to
welcome the New Year and to tell the story of the creation of the world.
“Ricorda, Rabbina,
Remember, Rabbi,” my school director Eva explained. “It’s the birthday of the world so the Rosh
HaShanah seder is our way to have a birthday party.” And what a celebration it is.
The seder itself has
its origins in the Talmud (Horayot 12a) where Rabbi Abaye writes about
eating those foods that grow in abundance at this time of the year. Beginning
with prayers of gratitude, we serve this abundance at our seder table as a
symbol of prosperity.
The Rosh HaShanah
seder offers an array of foods that symbolize our hopes and dreams for the
coming year. The seder itself is called,
“Seder Yehi Ratzon,” (The seder
of God’s will) and begins with prayers that we will be blessed with bounty,
strength and peace.
At first we arranged
seven bowls in a circle on the table, much like the Passover seder plate with a
different fruit or vegetable inside. Today we use a Jerusalem made Rosh HaShanah
seder plate where we place dates, pomegranates, apples and honey, string beans,
pumpkin, spinach and scallions. In the
middle of the seder plate, a fish head or a head of lettuce takes center stage
– a nod to a modern interpretation especially since a centuries-old tradition
often included a real sheep’s head!
The Rosh HaShanah
Haggadah contains readings from Genesis (Beresheet) which describe the
creation of the world and when and how to eat the symbolic foods. As each bowl is passed around, each guest
samples its contents while the seder leader makes each specific blessing.
Little Samuele
waited eagerly for the pomegranate, especially since he and his schoolmates had
already peeled the fruit and counted the 613 seeds that are found in almost
every one. As each of us tasted a piece, Settimio, congregation
president and seder leader explained that the pomegranate is especially chosen
for its 613 seeds that represent all 613 of the commandments. Together we make
the blessing, “May it be your will, Adonai, that in this new year we keep
your commandments,” to which the guests respond with “Ken Yehi Ratzon”
Each fruit and vegetable carries its own special blessing
and the seder concludes with the passing of the head of lettuce. As each person breaks off a piece, the leader
prays, “ May it be Your will, Adonai, that we be heads, not tails. Leaders,
not followers, never stragglers but at the head of what is right and what is
good in the year to come.”
A lively version of “Ken Yehi Ratzon” complete with a
rousing Ladino melody concludes the seder experience and just like on Passover,
a festive meal is served. Shanah Tovah’s are exchanged with hugs and kisses all
around. Kisses on both cheeks, because after all, it’s Italy.
