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

• Shulchan Aruch: Omits.

• Elya Rabba/Mishna Berurah: Includes.

Apple in Honey

• Debate: must the apple itself be sweet?

• Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky: Yes, use a sweet apple.

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.

  • Solution: make bracha, take a bite, then say Yehi Ratzon.

• 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

• One may not eat before mitzvos (Gemara Brachos). Applies to Tekios.

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

• Lenient due to long davening — considered a great need.

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