Rosh Hashanah Seder 2022- a fine affair!
Rosh Hashanah means the ‘head of the year’ and this event was held with 50 people of all generations gathered at the Community Centre, Churchdown. Eight tables were adorned with a colourful Seder plate, pens and paper.
Rabbi Anna wholeheartedly led the service. She spoke about leadership and the various types of leaders we can be led by and guided us through the relevance of the food items before us.
We ate from the Seder plate:
- with apples and honey, common in Ashkenazi traditions, representing a sweet year to come.
- Olives, of which seven species of tree grow in Israel and are abundant in the Middle East, which, along with the date fruit, another middle eastern delicacy, have come to symbolize peace.
- The pomegranate which ripens in the season of Rosh Hashanah and contains 613 seeds symbolizing the 613 Mitzvot (commandments) and good deeds we can do.
- carrots and beans, representing a rich and prosperous new year ahead
- A new addition to the seder plate has been blueberries and spinach or (lettuce in our case) both superfoods giving us high levels of vitamins containing anti -oxidants ideal for reducing inflammation.
- Finally, we sampled the Fair trade chocolate, a 3CLJC special addition, to help us express our concern for human rights and commitment to justice and equality in trade in the world.
At the end of the service, Rabbi Anna gave us a long Shofar blast.
This was followed by a table of bring and share luscious food, this year with seasonal squash soup and several yummy apple dishes for dessert.
It was a fun learning affair, a great chance to meet and catch up with old friends not seen for a while and new people to celebrate the start of the new year.