KIDDUSH The first thing declared holy in the Torah is not a place but a time. God “blessed the seventh day and made it holy.” Kiddush is a performative act in which we proclaim the holiness of the day. We do this in two ways, first by declaring the holiness of the day in the central blessing of the evening Amida, then at home by making a similar declaration over a cup of wine. Holiness in Judaism lives in these two environments: the community and the family.

מְקַדֵּשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן Who sanctifies Israel and the Day of Remembrance. The order here is precise. It was God who sanctified the Sabbath, but the Israelites who were charged – in the first mitzva given to them while they were still in Egypt – to sanctify the months, regulate the calendar and thus determine on which day the festival would fall. Hence the sanctity of the people of Israel takes precedence over the sanctity of the day, but the sanctity of the Sabbath precedes both. This is evident in both the concluding blessing and in the structure of the passage as a whole. On Shabbat, Kiddush begins with the sanctity of the day and only then speaks of Israel as the chosen people. On festivals, Kiddush begins with God’s choice of Israel and only then speaks of the holiness of the day.

שֶׁהֶחֱיָֽנוּ *Who has given us life.*A blessing over the passage of time at moments when we are specifically aware of the passage of time, like festivals, or memorable events like buying a new house. It is at such moments that we cease merely to exist. We feel vividly alive. We are aware of the power of now. Life is God’s gift. The breath we breathe is His. To be a Jew is to make a blessing over life.

CUSTOMS AT THE TABLE ON THE NIGHT OF ROSH HASHANA The hands are washed, and the blessing “Who brings forth bread” is made over two loaves. It is customary on Rosh HaShana to dip the bread in honey as a sign that the coming year will be sweet. Likewise it is a custom on the night of Rosh HaShana to eat an apple dipped in honey and say over it, first the blessing “Who creates the fruit of the tree” and then, “May it be Your will…that You renew for us a good and sweet year.” Eating food that tastes sweet is in memory of Nehemiah’s instruction to the people on Rosh HaShana to enjoy sweet food and drink (Neh. 8:10). Abaye said: Since omens are significant, one should make a habit, at the beginning of the year, to eat pumpkin, fenugreek, leek, beet and dates [since they grow in profusion and are a symbol of prosperity]. (Horayot 12a) There are many other customs and local traditions. In France in the twelfth century the custom was to eat red apples; in Provence it was grapes, figs, a calf’s head, and anything new, easily digested, and tasty (Maḥzor Vitry). Many have the custom not to eat nuts on Rosh HaShana.