The Arizona post., 1958-09-05
Rubbi Fox:
K006I FOX:
Jewish Quiz Box


QUESTION: Why do some people insist on wear
ing white on Rosh Hashanah?
ANSWER: This tradition is traced to the Pales-
tnian Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 1:3) where the rabbs
declare that the day of judgment of Rosh Hashanah
is different than mortal day of judgment. When one
faces the court of mortas comes dressed in black
fearful and worried When one faces the tribunal of
Heaven (Rosh Hashanah) one comes dressed in white.
It is for this reason that the pous white kttel
on Rosh Hashanah in the synagogue. According to
this explanation it is thus a symbol of confidence
which is the spirit designated by the rabbis for Jews
on Rosh Hashanah
Another explanation claims the white is worn
a symbol of purity and spiritual cleanliness The
idea is to show that have repened for sins and
appear in white innocence before the Almighty on
the Day of Judgment 1t is explained by some writer's
that this custom quite prevalent when it was GUS
tomary to wear white gala occasions and black on
mournful occasions. Now that black is worn even at
Weddings some contend that this customary tradition
longer is appicable although others still persist in
wearing the white on Rosh Hashanah.
QUESTION: Why is it customary to eat ap-
pie dipped in honey on Rosh Hashanah?
ANSWER: Some claim that apple is the SYM
bol of the glory of the judgment of the Almighty
which is present on Rosh Hashanah. The apple is
hard and tart. Dipping it into honey makes it soft
and sweet Likewise is the judgment of the Almighty
originally harsh When it is dipped into prayers,
our tears and our penitence on Rosh Hashanah it
turns soft and sweet like the apple. Some claim that
in Northern France red apples used as far back
the Twelfth Century to remind one of his sins.
When the red apples dipped in honey not only
does the crimson color fade but there is sWeetened
effect Our sins turned into virtues by our pray
ers, our penitence and charity on the day of
Judgment This tradition is traced to the days of Ne
hemah where the returning exiles hidden to eat
sweet things for it Rosh Hashanah nehemiah
SLID and hence our tradition to eat sweets on Rosh
Hashanah.
QUESTION: Why are the occasions for blowing
the shofar distributed through several parts of the
services of Rosh Hashanah?
ANSWER: The Shofar is blown during two prn-
cipa parts of the service First after the Torah is
read and secondly during the Musaf Service which
comes later There several reasons for this dupi
cation. Some claim it is done to confuse Satan so
that he will not be able to prosecute the people the
days of judgment. Others claim that the shoar was
originally sounded in the morning service of Shachart
so that commandment be not delayed but carried
out as soon as possible Because Of evil decree from
a hostile government which forbid the shofar from
being blown it moved to either the time after the
reading of the Torah to the time of Musaf-a time
when the guards stationed to whether Jews were
still blowing the Shofar would not be at hand Ac-
cording to this explanation the traditional expana
ton of confusing Satan is symbolic way of referring
to the trick used to confuse the enemy e the hostile
monarch who issued the decree. Even after the de-
cree was abolished the tradition continued. There are
some writer's who claim that the principal time for
the shofar is during Musaf because of the trpartite
liturgy of Malchiot, Zikronot and Shofrot which are
accompanied by the shofar. 1t done also at an
earlier hour ie after the Torah reading for the i'll
and weak indisposed who could not wait until the
service the svnagogIe but who had to leave