The Gemara in Keritut 6a and Horayot 12a mentions five foods to eat or see on Rosh Hashanah: kara, rubia, karti, silka, and t’marim. Rashi explains that these foods are sweet or grow quickly, symbolizing the blessings we hope to receive in the coming year. The Geonim explain that their Hebrew/Aramaic names allude to the blessings we seek. The Abudraham, Tur, and others note that these five foods became the basis for adding additional symbolic foods and blessings—because the more blessings we invoke at the beginning of the New Year, the better! The order in which
the Gemara lists the foods is not necessarily significant, and later authorities arranged them differently.
Even if children or adults don’t enjoy eating these foods, the sources indicate that simply placing them on the table can have significance. These customs are cited in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 583) and apply to Ashkenazim as well as Sepharadim. Historically, Jews in Europe often limited the custom to apples and honey and perhaps pomegranates because many of these fruits and vegetables were unavailable. Today, living in the Land of Israel and blessed with abundant produce, we have the opportunity to revive these ancient customs and add meaningful blessings to our Rosh Hashanah table.
Wishing you, your families, and all Am Yisrael a Ketiva VaChatima Tova!
Rav Ar iShvat (Chwat)