Rosh Hashanah traditions highlight sweet foods and date palm history

As the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah approaches, traditions involving sweet foods like honey and challah take center stage. While honey from bees is a common staple for dipping apples, date syrup, known as silan, serves as a biblical and vegan-friendly alternative.

Israel has become a global leader in date palm agriculture. Although date palms had nearly disappeared from the region by the 14th century due to war and climate change, agricultural efforts in the 20th century helped restore them. In 1953, pioneer Ben-Zion Israeli facilitated the introduction of Iraqi date palm saplings to the Arava Desert, which is now a primary growing region. Commercial production of silan in Israel began in the 1980s.

In preparation for the holiday, various culinary traditions are highlighted, including the baking of round challah breads. These breads often feature symbolic shapes, such as apples, to represent the hope for a sweet new year.