Rosh Hashanah

The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah 2009: Friday, September 18(begins at sundown)

The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah is widely known and celebrated as the New Years Day of the Jewish calendar, but actually Rosh Hashanah has a fourfold meaning - It is the Jewish New Year, the Day of Judgment, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Shofar Blowing.
•It is the Day of Judgment As Jews worldwide examine their past deeds and asks for forgiveness for their sins

•It is the Day of Shofar Blowing As the Shofar (the rams horn) is blown in temple to herald the beginning of the 10 day period known as the High Holy Days

•It is the Day of Remembrance As Jews review the history of their people and pray for Israel

•And of course it is New Year's Day Celebrated with it's holiday greeting cards, special prayers, and festive and sweet foods (to ensure sweetness in the New Year)
Rosh Hashanah is observed the first and second day of the seventh month of the Jewish calender, Tishri. Coming in the Fall season of the western calendar, usually in September.

In Israel Rosh Hashanah is the only holiday kept for 2 days as it is considered too important to be observed for only 24 hours. Both days are considered one long day of 48 hours.

The traditions of Rosh Hashanah are simple as the only commandment specified for the holiday is the blowing of the shofar. In temple the shofar is blown on Rosh Hashanah to herald the beginning of the period known as the High Holy Days.

It is believed that on Rosh Hashanah the destiny of all mankind is recorded by God in the Book of Life. After Rosh Hashanah services, as the congregants leave the synagogue they say to each other...

"May you be inscribed in the Book of Life"
On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, after the afternoon services, Jews visit a body of water or pond, containing live fish*, to symbolically "cast away" their sins into the river.

*The fish's dependence on water symbolizes the Jews dependence on God, as a fish's eyes never close, God's watchful eyes never cease.

On Rosh Hashanah it is customary for families to gather together for the holiday meal. Traditional foods sweetened with honey, apples and carrots are served, symbolizing sweetness, blessings, abundance and the hope for a sweet year ahead.

The first night's meal begins with apple dipped in honey. Challah, the bread usually eaten on the Sabbath (not braided as at regular meals but instead baked in a circle - a wish that the coming year will roll around smoothly without unhappiness or sorrow) is also dipped in honey before eating.
This post gotten directly from this website: http://www.holidays.net/highholydays/rosh.htm

Momfinitions

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Kids In The Kitchen: Unlimited FUN!

If you’re a parent who spends very little time with your kids due to the daily
hassles in your office and/or in your home, then I say this to you: make time. When you’re old and look back, you’ll regret not doing things with your kids. You might even end up miserable and hating yourself and the real sad part is that you’ll never get that time back. So why be that old person? Try doing things with your kids today! One little activity that is very rewarding for you and your kid is inviting your children into your kitchen. There are quick and easy recipes that both you and your kids can enjoy. Be creative! Have FUN!

How many times have you scolded your kid for playing around the kitchen? Well this is understandable given the potential dangers around the kitchen, such as knives, hot
surfaces, boiling water, hot oils, etc. But by involving them in the cooking
process you will be able to teach them the proper and safe conducts in and around
the kitchen. This beats scolding anytime.

Children love the whole process of cooking. They see and learn the way big pieces of ingredients are chopped, sliced, or grated and mixed together to form a terrific dish. Maybe to them it’s a big jigsaw puzzle, that when you get it right you will have one whole piece of dish that you can enjoy and eat!

Be patient when you’re working with kids. Expect a BIG mess of things!!! Your work
table will most likely be overrun by various ingredients, drops of seasonings,
scattered utensils, measuring instruments, and other cookware. This is fun to them,
and who knows you might enjoy a taste of chaos once in a while. It might actually
be liberating. But for the kids, the experience is hilarious and when they made
good with their food, the feeling would be fulfilling. You will be laughing, loving and celebrating about the memories you just created, and hopefully will last a lifetime for you and for them!

There are several easy recipes that kids can make. Some very easy and simple dishes
include omelet recipes and other breakfast dishes. Making French toast is quite
easy as well. Salads and sandwiches are also quite easy to make plus they are very
healthy. Your kids can also bring these sandwiches for their lunch breaks.

One simple recipe is making a banana crepe, or make a chocolate banana crepe.
What you will need is some crepe flour, milk, eggs, melted chocolate, butter and of
course sliced bananas. Mix together everything in a bowl except for the chocolate,
bananas and butter. Let your kid do the mixing. Use the butter to grease a
crepe pan and then pour the crepe mixture on it. Make sure to spread out the
mixture over the pan. Remember to flip it to cook the other side. Once cooked,
spread the melted chocolate, line up the banana slices, and then fold it. You can
add some more chocolate on the outside. Enjoy this with your kid.

Making pancakes is also another easy one. You can either go with the quick cooked
pancakes available in the market or make your own from flour, baking powder, salt,
and sugar. Whatever you decide, your kids can handle the mixing of the pancake mix,
the greasing of the pan, the flipping of the pancakes and the presentation and
additional touches like topping with chocolate or strawberry syrup.

Allow your kids to experiment and be imaginative. You will enjoy quick and easy
recipes if you cook them with your kids. Sure expect a dirty kitchen later, but you
have so much to gain if you involve your kids with the things you do! Happy cooking!