Some Food Traditions for the High Holidays

by | Aug 27, 2025 | Kitchen Committee

  1. Starting on 1 Elul (eve of August 24th); some cleanse the body with foods as they clean their soul with prayers.

  2. The 25th of Elul (September 16th celebrates Hashem’s Day One of Creation. Some will have two special meals with meat and sweets.

  3. On Erev Rosh Hashanah (eve of September 22nd) apples and honey are served for a sweet and good New Year.

  4. On Day One of Rosh Hashanah (September 23rd) during the Tashlich service, crumbs from your pockets are tossed in flowing water representing casting out of sins, bad habits etc.

  5. Erev Rosh Hashanah Day Two (eve of September 23th) during candlelighting you want to start with something new (IE, first time serving a new food), for the Shecheyanu prayer.

  6. Tzom Gedalia (on September 25th) we lament the assassination of governor of Judah which ended Jewish rule following the destruction of First Temple. We fast from first light to full dark.

  7. The day of Kol Nidre (October 1st) is a lesser known holiday. Just as Jews must fast on Yom Kippur, they should also eat heartily before sunset in order to participate fully the next day. Usually, this is a two meal day, earliest one having meat, and the second meal, that needs to be completely finished before candle lighting, being a high carb dairy meal.Traditionally there may be stuffed foods served representing a hidden surprise (an easy fast?, a good service?) Dietary precautions suggested before fasting are to eat less spicy, salty foods, with lots of fluid and fruits with fluid. Also highly recommended is no caffeine, and no alcohol, for an easy fast.

  8. On Yom Kippur (October 2nd) we do a full fast from erev Kol Nidre to full dark of Yom Kippur.

  9. During Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret (starting eve of October 6th through day of October 14th ), we eat and drink in the Sukkah and for celebrations, serve stuffed foods celebrating the harvest season, so we are “stuffed” with the bounty of the fields.

  10. And on Simchat Torah (eve of October 14th through day of October 15th ), the Torah is on our minds and are represented in our celebratory meals. Maybe you have two challah shaped like Torah Scrolls, or two stuffed cabbage rolls side by side to representing the Torah.