HALACHA OF THE WEEK: The Cutom of an Apple Dipped in Honey There is an age-old Rosh HaShanah custom that first among the many special foods we eat is an apple dipped in honey [Tur Orech Chaim 583].
Why an apple?
The simplest explanation is that it is a sweet fruit and when combined with the honey is the perfect food to symbolize a "sweet New Year." Yet, the symbolism goes well beyond this, because as Rashi comments on the verse in Breishit 27:27 the scent of an apple orchard is the very scent of Gan Eden. Therefore, eating an apple on Rosh Hashanah is symbolic not only of sweetness, but of an idyllic life.
In fact, Rabbi Efraim Margoliot, in his Elef l'Mateh notes that the apple ["tapuach" in Hebrew] is so important, that if an apple was unavailable, people would substitute a potato instead, relying on the fact that this vegetable is also called a "tapuach adama."
Because an apple is not a regular part of a meal, but normally eaten as a desert, one cannot rely on the "hamotzi" and recite the bracha of "borei pri ha'etz" be before eating the apple (The Maharil suggests eating the apple before the "hamotzi"). In addition, there is a special "yehi ratzon that is recited.
However, when to recite the "yehi ratzon," whether before the bracha, after the bracha and before eating, or after eating is subject to a debate. 1. The Magen Avraham [583:2] quotes the Magalei Tzedek that one should say it between the bracha and eating, because it is considered a prerequisite for eating the apple and honey and therefore is not a "hefsek" [lit. interruption]. 2. The Magen Avraham, however, argues that it’s not truly a prerequisite and therefore it is better to recite the "yehi ratzon" after taking a bite of the apple. This is also the position of the Mishna Berura [583:4] 3. Rav Hershel Schachter, shlit"a rules that the "yehi ratzon" should be said before the bracha and serve as a prayer. Rav Moshe Shternbuch agrees with this position [Teshuvot VeHanhagot 2:266].
DVAR TORAH On Rosh Hashanah, while the mitzvah of shofar blowing can technically be fulfilled with as few as 40 blasts (Rambam, Shofar 3:10), our tradition is to blow 100 sounds. The source of this custom is found in the 11th-century work Aruch, where Rabbi Nathan of Rome explains that we blow 100 shofar sounds in remembrance of the 100 cries of Sisera’s mother when she learned of her son’s death in battle.
Who was Sisera? In Sefer Shoftim (Judges 4-5), we read that Sisera was the commander of the Canaanite army under King Yavin. Sisera led a battle against the Israelites and was ultimately defeated by Barak, with the prophetess Devorah's guidance.
But why would we base a Jewish custom, particularly one as significant as the shofar, on the cries of the mother of an enemy?
One explanation is that on Rosh Hashanah, we not only commemorate the creation of the world, but more specifically the creation of humanity itself—Adam was created on Rosh Hashanah. This reminds us that all human beings are made b’tzelem Elokim—in the image of God. By invoking the tears of Sisera’s mother, we acknowledge the shared human experience of grief. Though her son was an enemy of Israel, her pain as a mother mourning her child transcends such distinctions.
However, Rabbi Yehoshua Zeitlin, in his commentary to the Semak (92:14), finds this origin of the custom unusual. He instead suggests that the 100 sounds of the shofar may be derived from a midrash in Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer (Chapter 23), which recounts that when Sarah learned from the Satan about the Akeidah, she cried out like a shofar.
According to Rabbi Zeitlin, there is a tradition that Sarah cried 100 times. Therefore, he posits that the true origin of this custom may stem from Sarah Imeinu's tears, rather than those of Sisera’s mother, whose cries are referred to with the similar term "Eim Sisera" (mother of Sisera).
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MAZAL TOV * Rabbi Michael and Bonnie Myers on the birth of a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter (Israel). * to Barbara Mandelbaum on the birth of a great grandson. The proud parents are Yitzchak and Batsheva Nadoff. * to Dr. Ed and Bruria Loew on the engagement of their son, Amitai to Carrie Seleman. * to Rabbi Levi and Yifat Mostofsky on the birth of a son. The Shalom Zachar will be at their home 6833 North Kedzie (party room) to help with meals – click here, the bris will be Tuesday morning at KINS.
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SEFER MELACHIM 
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SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR - Shabbat 4:00pm
TALMUD CLASS – Shabbat 45 minutes before mincha
SEFER YESHAYAHU - Sundays 9:00am