Hello everyone!
As some of you might know, our family loves to celebrate and uphold many of our Jewish traditions straight from the Torah. One of these is Rosh Hashanah, also known as the day of coronation. Now, there are so many delightful customs tied to this joyful celebration that I once wrote a small siddur (prayer book) just to help newcomers join in without getting tangled up in tradition! You see, depending on your background, some of our celebrations might seem a bit... different. For instance, we generally steer clear of anything salty or bitter because this feast demands a joyful heart and plenty of sweetness. Imagine—some folks even skip coffee during this time! Picture me—the Master Barista at La Costa Cafe and Lounge—not serving or sipping coffee! It's practically unthinkable!
In Judaism, Rosh Hashanah marks the start of the Jewish New Year. During this two-day celebration, Jews reflect on creation itself and their special relationship with the God of Israel. One tasty tradition is munching on apples dipped in honey—a treat that's delicious any time but especially meaningful now.
Why apples and honey? It's a beautiful tradition symbolizing our hopes for a sweet and prosperous new year! Some believe it harkens back to the story of Adam and Eve's forbidden fruit in Genesis—though there's no biblical mention that it was an apple, despite artistic interpretations. The true essence lies in celebrating the arrival of our King after a long journey, welcoming him with joyful hearts as we sound the shofar. As he returns, we embrace the opportunity to shape the fate of the new year. To mark this fresh start filled with sweetness, we indulge in delightful fruits and cakes (or tres leches for us), embracing a future full of promise and joy.
I know our job is to serve your coffee, not to give you a crash course in Judaism, but hey, who couldn't use a little hope and light for the future? We've been through quite the rollercoaster as a community—businesses closing down faster than I can finish my latte, tornadoes swirling around like they're auditioning for "The Wizard of Oz," financial crises that make my wallet cry, hurricanes and floods turning us into amateur swimmers. It's like living in an endless episode of "Survivor." Meanwhile, food prices are climbing higher than my caffeine levels while incomes stubbornly refuse to budge. I get it; these times are tougher than overcooked brisket. But as we blow the shofar and munch on something sweet, let's declare with all our hearts that better days are on their way. So hold onto hope and faith—better days are coming!
So here's to making sure this year is fruitful, joyful—and yes—sweet!
Shana Tova!
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