MENUS FOR HOLIDAYS

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Holy Days are created. The Torah instructs us to make them holy and when we do, year after year, millennia after millennia, those days absorb that energy and it builds. In other words, they’re holy because we make them holy.

Imagine waking up and looking at the calendar. The calendar tells you that today is Yom Kippur. Suppose that means nothing to you. You have breakfast, go to work, live your day as any other. No, a lightning bolt will not come streaming out of the sky to strike you dead. Sure, HaShem, The Name, The Universe, That-Which-Is, will notice—the death of a dragonfly is noticed—but it’s not for me to say that there’s a judgement for that. Unlike God, I don’t know your inner heart or what your life journey is all about. Maybe you’re exactly where you need to be. But one thing that I can tell you is that it’s unlikely that the day will have any special gifts to give you.

Barring the rare epiphany, the gifts we receive from the day are directly correlated with the energy we put into it. There are, of course, specific ways in which we bring holiness to our holidays—they’re rooted in Torah, in Rabbinic Law, and in Tradition. But everyone has their own style and each of us is on our own journey, so if those methods don’t speak to you right now, you can improvise. You create your magic in your way. It’s all about Intent.

Is it more holy to spend all day in synagogue davening or to spend the day in quiet reflection, either at home or out in nature? The answer lies in where you are, right now, on your path. As I said, there’s more than one way.

But there’s a commonality among us Jews, from the most meticulously orthodox, to the barely practicing, and to everyone who’s religiosity falls in between. We’re Jews. We like to eat. Those who observe Shabbat have a weekly celebratory meal, but among those who don’t, many still gather with family and friends for Rosh Hashanah, for Passover, and for Chanukah. Jewish holidays begin on the evening before the day, and so when the sun sets, families gather at table to celebrate and to usher in the special day. Each one has its own traditional foods, and these foods help us to connect with the essence of the particular holiday.

We could just eat and enjoy each other’s company, but as long as we’re here, maybe we could derive some spiritual value from all of this. After all, that’s what religious holidays are supposed to be about.

So, how can we make that happen?

Eating foods that are specific to the holiday are a great way to steer at least some of the conversation towards our traditions and spirituality.

As we dip our apples in honey we can talk about what it means to have a sweet year, and as we pile applesauce onto our potato latkes we can talk about miracles and what that word can mean to us today. But before anyone comes to the table, or even comes to the door, it’s important to set the stage, to create your altar. (small “a”. The true Altar can only be in the beit hamikdash, our holy temple in Jerusalem, may it be rebuilt in our lifetime.) The Talmud teaches that our Shabbat and holiday dinner tables become our altars in the absence of our Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

But, one’s altar is more than physical; it’s also a state of mind. In fact, it’s what’s happening internally that gives value to whatever you do externally. It may sound lame, but cleaning house and polishing candlesticks, putting on nice clothes, setting a beautiful table, and preparing a carefully planned menu, all while focusing on my intent, is what works for me. Once these things are done, I’m ready to receive.

My holiday menus can seem like a lot, I know. I have a penchant for extravagance and the “wow” factor. But, bear in mind that some of these items are thrown together quickly and some can be made in advance. And, you can pick and choose—the menu police won’t come knocking if you don’t make everything on the list!

In sharing my menus, my goal is to toss you a key that will open a door

on your path for you.

This page is a work in progress. Some of these links have no content yet, but have faith, they will be up and running soon!

Meanwhile, I invite you to visit the pages listed under Challah Kabbalah, my menus for Shabbat, and the ever-expanding list of posted recipes. I’ll be adding much more content in the days to come.

Thanks for dropping by, and please check back.