Honey Dishes

Honey dishes, spoons and dippers hand picked for Rosh Hashanna and all year round use. The Jewish New Year is a special time when we look to create positive signs for the year ahead. Key to this is having a sweet year and nothing is sweeter than this golden liquid, presented at our ceremonial dinner table in a beautiful dish, with a silver spoon. We include unique packaging this year which will brighten any dinner table. It also serves as an impressive hostess gift if you happen to be going to family or friends at this time of year. We will gift wrap and card it for you free. Before you checkout, visit our Rosh Hashana Gifts department which has a new range of specialty gifts. We wish you and your family a happy and healthy New Year!!!

The tradition of gift giving for Rosh Hashana

Although Jews don't observe the practice of gift-giving around Christmas and some have adopted it for Hanukah, the traditional time for giving gifts in Israel is Rosh Hashanno. It's an amazing time to be with the Jewish people as they prepare for the 10 days of Awe which begin on Rosh Hashannoh and continue for ten days until Yom Kippur which known in English as the Day of Atonement. It's a fascinating combination of a time of joy and hope that is brought in during the New Year and one of somber reflection which is the Day of Atonement. There is a strong mystical and traditional sense that the pattern of the whole year is set on Rosh Hashano which is why it is a time of joy, sweetness and the giving of gifts.

Another common custom is the inclusion of pomegranates to the festive meal. In the land of Israel, one can see many dark green trees at the time of Rosh Hashanna with bright red pomegranates becoming ripe. They are used to symbolize that we should be fruitful because there are so many seeds in a pomegranate. I once tried to count the seeds but after a short while, I couldn't resist their tangy taste and I started eating them. My year was, indeed, very sweet!

There are two interesting examples that I'd like to share. First, the reason for giving gifts, having the special foods discussed here (see Rosh Hashanah Gifts) and eating sweet foods beautifully displayed is that Jews are hoping this will become a trend for the year ahead. The want the rest of the year to be one of receiving gifts, leading a good and righteous life and one sweetness. The second example involves sleeping. Jews are commanded to increase their rest on the Sabbath. Many people have an additional afternoon sleep on Saturday. However, on Rosh Hashannah, we are encouraged not to sleep because it is believed that if you sleep on Rosh Hashanah, you will be sleepy all year.

There are gits that suit all budgets. We have Honey Dishes made from silver which can shine brightly on your table so the children can see their faces in them. We have other materials, as well, unique varieties of Honey Dishes in pewter and ceramic all the value to value-based options in plastic and wood. The ceramic options are glazed and painted colorfully to make your year sweet as well as very happy.

We have a range of Rosh Hashanna Honey Dishes that make great personalized gifts that are really creative. There is a range of jeweled cases with three-dimensional images of the Old City of Jerusalem. These cases come with a spoon in an assortment of colors. They are carefully packaged so they can be shipped to you with no fear. Each one is a piece of art as well as a way to avoid getting sticky hands when you're dipping your apples into your Rosh Hashanna Honey Dishes. Each has a high level of craftsmanship combining a range of quality materials.

Customs of Jews for the New Year

Custom see Jews using many foods as symbols. In addition to the most well-known tradition of apple dipped in beautiful Honey Dishes, there are some that may seem strange to modern dietary tastes. For example, the head of a fish is often placed on the table to represent the prayer that we should be the HEAD and not the TAIL. You may speculate as to what this means. One view is that the head is the superior part, the part that makes decisions and leads the rest of the body, which includes the tail.

Another common custom is the inclusion of pomegranates to the festive meal. In the land of Israel, one can see many dark green trees at the time of Rosh Hashanna with bright red pomegranates becoming ripe. They are used to symbolize that we should be fruitful because there are so many seeds in a pomegranate. I once tried to count the seeds but after a short while, I couldn't resist their tangy taste and I started eating them. My year was, indeed, very sweet!