Symbolism before Rosh Hashanah puts children ‘in the moment’

With the Jewish New Year approaching, children at The Gan Garrett Jewish Preschool celebrated the upcoming holiday Friday by snacking on some sweet treats.

“Why apples and honey on Rosh Hashanah?” Tzivie Greenberg asked the class.

Lochlan Marchewka, 4, raised his hand: “I forgot.”

“We hope our year is full of so much sweetness and kindness and mitzvahs,” said Greenberg, who heads the school and co-directs Clark County’s Chabad Jewish Center. Apples dipped in honey are typically eaten before the new year’s feast.

Rosh Hashanah, one of the most important holidays for Jews, begins Sunday evening and ends Tuesday evening. In the Jewish calendar, it will be the 5779th year since creation. Rosh Hashanah precedes Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, that starts on the evening of Sept. 18. Together, they’re known as the High Holy Days.

The small preschool class sang songs and recited blessings in Hebrew, and drank grape juice out of plastic kiddush cups, which are used in blessings before meals. Pomegranates, another traditional Rosh Hashanah food, got mixed reviews from the preschoolers.

“I thought it was an onion,” Lochlan said.

“Yeah, I want an apple,” said Greenberg’s son, Moshe, 2.

Challah, an egg-y, braided bread typically made during Jewish holidays, was a crowd pleaser. For Rosh Hashanah, it’s round rather than a loaf, and it’s made extra sweet with cinnamon sugar baked on top.

“I want raisins on the challah, and I want to dip them in honey,” Moshe said.

The children rolled out three strands of dough to weave together to make their own challah. The circular shape symbolizes the cycle of life.

“It just makes you more present. When you have all these symbolisms, it puts you in the moment,” Greenberg said.

Jews will be attending synagogue to pray for the coming year. If you know someone celebrating Rosh Hashanah, you could wish them Shanah Tovah U’metukah, which wishes people a good and sweet year.