Simanim of Rosh HaShana
Gemara & Sources
Rosh HaShana: Two girsaos — one to see the Simanim, one to eat them.
Krisus: Only mentions eating.
Shulchan Aruch: Rules to eat the Simanim.
Poskim: If one cannot eat (allergies, bugs), seeing suffices.
Kaf HaChaim: Yehi Ratzons may be recited even without Simanim present.
Second Night
Elya Rabba, Eishel Avraham: Limited to first night (“beginning of the year”).
Rav Elyashiv: Did Simanim at all meals.
Hashem’s Name in Yehi Ratzon
Apple in Honey
Bracha on Apple & Order
Fruits eaten for siman, not satiation → require a bracha.
Yehi Ratzon ideally said with food in front, but may be hefsek.
Other Simanim (no bracha): Yehi Ratzon said before eating.
Which Fruit for HaEtz
Shulchan Aruch: Priority to Shivas HaMinim (dates before pomegranates/apples).
RSZA, Kaf HaChaim: Bracha on dates.
Minhag: Many make bracha on apple; Kaf HaChaim explains this only works if other fruits aren’t on the table.
Nuts
ReMA: Many avoid walnuts — gematria “chet” & issues with davening.
Magen Avraham: Hazelnuts same issue. Peanuts permitted.
Rav Moshe Stern: walnut as minor ingredient fine; “walnut cake” problematic.
Vinegar / Bitter Foods
Magen Avraham, MB, Mateh Efraim: Avoid vinegar, bitter, and sour foods.
Only applies if the food tastes bitter.
General Principle
Poskim
Magen Avraham, Trumas HaDeshen: Even tasting prohibited.
Rishonim: Some distinguish arai vs. keva.
Mishna Berurah, Chayei Adam: Only light snack permitted if great need.
Mateh Efraim: Same for Tekios, privately if necessary.
Yeshiva Minhag
What Counts as Arai?
Fruits, meat, fish = permitted.
Cake/mezonos: danger zone. More than k’beitza = seuda → prohibited.
MB: Al HaMichya after kzayis cake.
Rav Moshe/Brisker Rav: Disagree — other ingredients don’t count as grain. Must be actual kzayis of flour.
Practical Rosh HaShana Concern
If machmir like Rav Moshe, eating cake to shiur → prohibited keva before Tekios.
Safer: less than k’beitza of grain-dense foods.
Gedolei Psak
Rav Henkin: opposed Kiddush pre-Tekios (“minhag ra”).
Rav Gifter: defended Yeshiva practice.
Rav Henkin: cites Mishnah in Peah — even minority psak may be correct.
Eating Before Tekios