5 Reasons Why We Dip Apples In Honey

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The minhag to eat special fruits in Rosh HaShanah is from the Gemara in Horiyos 12a. While the gemara gives a list of recommended fruits dipping apples in honey is not mentioned.

The earliest source for the apple in honey is from the Abudraham as quoted by the Rema (OC 583:1). What is the significance of this famous minhag? The Moadim L’Simcha brings a number of reasons.

1. The Maharil says that Yitzchok smelled an apple orchard when he commented on the beautiful smell as Yaakov came in to him to receive the Brachos. The Vilna Gaon in the Biur HaGra says that this happened on Rosh HaShanah.

2. The Ben Ish Chai says that apples give three pleasures Smell, Appearance and Taste which correspond to three Brachos we’d like to receive for the next year Bini (Chidren and Nachas from Children), Chayai (Life/Health) and Mezoni (Wealth).

3. The Zohar says that wine symbolizes Din or judgment. Apples are eaten after strong wine in order not to be harmed by the strength of the wine. Therefore since Rosh HaShanah is a time of Din we eat apples in order to sweeten the judgment.

4. Rosh HaShanah we want Hashem to remember the ashes of Akeidas Yitzchok. The ashes that accumulated on the mizbei’ach from all the korbonos are called Tapuach or apple.

5. “Tapuach” has the same gematria as “Piru V’Rivu” and “Dvash” has the same gematria as “Isha”. Rosh HaShanah is a special time for barren women to be remembered by Hashem and blessed with children. We therefore eat Tapuach B’Dvash.

{Matzav.com Newscenter}


9 COMMENTS

  1. For #5 does it make a difference that in biblical Hebrew tapuach is a citrus? Apples in Israel are a relatively recent phenomenon. Perhaps the minhag should include oranges in honey?

      • This evidence is archeological, Shimon. The scientific community has good methods of apprehending many such truths about ancient life including its agriculture, but the cult of the gedolim pretends it doesn’t exist. They always say “do you have any source for your theories” but it’s a front, and it’s not like they would ever want to dig deeper into those sources (scholarly journals and the like), when Gemara is the bread and butter. Apples are not indigenous to the fertile crescent (they are in Ashkenaz), they come from Hellenist times IIRC. Citrus trees however are indigenous.

        I don’t know if it makes a difference actually … custom in Judaism reigns supreme. This ain’t Karaism.

    • who said by citrus they meant modern citrus like a orange. that would be like comparing a banana nowadays to its cultivar ancestors.

  2. Its because Yiden are Nimshal like an apple. Ke`Tapuach Ba`Atzai Hyar, Kain Dodi Bain Habonim…….
    Klal Yisroel should have a sweet new year.

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