Rosh Hashana

  • On Yom Tov we say Shechayonu when lighting the candles or when making Kiddush. 
  • Most women say Shechayonu when lighting the candles. Men say Shechayonu when making Kiddush. 
  • A woman that is making her own Kiddush does not say Shechayonu again if she said Shechayonu when lighting the candles. 
  • Women may answer Omen to the Shechayonu their husband says by Kiddush even if they said Shechayonu when lighting the candles. 
  • It is questionable if you say Shechayonu on the second day of Rosh Hashonah and that is why we have a new fruit or new clothes and the Brocha goes both on the Yom Tov and the new fruit or clothes. 
  • If you don’t have a new fruit or new clothes you still say Shechayonu. 

     

    Question: Why do you make Shechayonu on a new fruit? 

    Answer:  It used to be that fruit was available at certain times during the year. Peaches, plums, blueberries, cherries in the summer and oranges in the winter.  

    It was a Simcha when the summer fruits became available and that is why we say Shechayonu. 
    Nowadays that most fruits are available all year round it is questionable if you can say Shechayonu on fruit because it doesn’t give you Simcha, 
    On Rosh Hashonah that anyway we say Shechayonu even if we don’t have a new fruit we say it also on a new fruit. 
    Many people do not say Shechayonu on new fruits nowadays. 

    Question: what is considered a new fruit? 

    Answer: A fruit that you haven’t eaten and you have some Simcha eating it (I would assume one does not have Simcha eating a different type of apple).  

  • Some have a Minhag not to eat nuts on Rosh Hashonah, 
  • Some don’t eat nuts till Simchas Torah. 
  • Why do we not eat nuts?  What is considered a nut?  May you eat almonds, pistachios, cashews and peanuts?
  • The R’mo gives two reasons why not to eat nuts on Rosh Hashonah 

                      1)      Because Agoz is the same gematria as Chait (sin) Both are 18. 

                      2)     Because nuts cause you to produce excess mucus and saliva. It makes you congested and you need to cough to clear the congestion. The coughing is a disturbance in the middle of davening.

  • Agoz is a walnut (or hazelnut).
  • If the reason we don’t eat nuts is because of the first reason that Agoz is the same Gematria as Chait, then the only nut you may not eat is  a walnut (or hazelnut) and you may eat all other nuts.   
  • If we don’t eat nuts because of the second reason it applies to all nuts. 

Therefore, 

 On Rosh Hashonah you shouldn’t eat any nuts. 

  • After Rosh Hashonah the second reason does not apply so if your Minhag is not to eat nuts till Simchas Torah you may eat all nuts except walnuts (or hazelnuts). You may eat almonds, cashew, pistachios etc… 

Question:  

May you eat on Rosh Hashonah food that has nuts in it? 

May you use nuts as an ingredient in a cake? 

Answer:  

You may if the nuts are completely ground (for example almond flour) but not if the nuts are still in pieces (for example crunchy peanut butter or chocolate with nuts). You shouldn’t add to a salad, slivers of almonds or pine nuts. 

  • On Rosh Hashonah by the night meal, the Minhag is to eat an apple dipped into honey and other fruits (and vegetables) as a Simon Tov. 
  • After eating the apple the custom is to say Yhi Rozon.
  • Some say Yhi Rozon Hashem Elokanu V’loka Avoseinu …… for all the fruits some say it just for the apple and the rest just Yhi Rozon, some say just Yhi Rozon for everything.
  • Some people have the Minhag to eat them both nights, some eat them only the first night. 
  • Some people eat them both nights after Kiddush before washing for Hamotzie, others eat them after Hamotzie. 
  • Some eat them the 2nd night after Kiddush if the Shecheyonu is said on the fruit in order not to have a Hefsek. 
  • You should make a Brocho on the fruit (on vegetables one doesn’t make a Brocho as it is considered part of the meal). 
  • If one is eating one of the seven Minim, some Poskim hold you should make the Brocho on the seven Minim. 
  • Others hold you should make it on the apple and eat it first (it is preferable not to have one of the seven Minim on the table when you make the Brocha Boreh Pri H’etz). 
  •  It is preferable not to eat before hearing the Shofar. 
  • If you will not be able to concentrate on your davening without eating you may eat. 
  • You should make Kiddush before eating. 
  • You should eat less than a Kbetzah of cake. 
  • You should only eat what is necessary, to be able to daven properly. 
  •  Shofar is a Mitzva S’hazmam G’romo, therefore women are not obligated Min Hatorah to hear the blowing of the Shofar however most women try to hear the Shofar.  
  •  Since women are not obligated Min Hatorah to hear Shofar they may be more lenient and eat before hearing the Shofar. 
  • It is sufficient to hear 30 Kolos. 
  • If you didn’t hear the Brocha you should make it yourself. 
  • You should make sure to hear the whole T’kiya from the beginning (of the T’kiya) till the end. 
  •  You may use honey from a honeycomb on Yom Tov/Shabbos [Rabbi Miller Shlita] 
  • You should make every effort to pay what you owe (bills pledges etc…), before Rosh Hashonah. 
  • Even though you are not allowed to daven for personal things on Yom Tov, on Rosh Hashonah the Mateh Efraim (584:25) says you may daven for personal things (health, parnosah, children etc..). 
  • You should make every effort to concentrate when davening on Rosh Hashonah. 

Ksiva V’chasima Tova a year of Brocha, Hazlocha, Simcha and Nachas.  

HKBH should answer all our T’filos and we should be Zocheh to Moshiach