Question:
I know that many people avoid eating nuts and sour foods on Rosh Hashanah because they are considered unfavorable simanim. My question is: for how long does this custom apply? Is the avoidance limited to Rosh Hashanah itself, or must one continue avoiding nuts and sour foods until Simchas Torah?
Answer:
From the letter of the law, the custom of avoiding nuts and sour or sharp foods applies only during Rosh Hashanah itself, and according to many sources primarily during the Rosh Hashanah meals. Nevertheless, various communities developed the custom to continue avoiding nuts, and in some cases even sour or sharp foods, through the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah or all the way until after Simchas Torah. Practically, each family should follow its accepted custom. According to the Chabad custom, there is no established practice to avoid nuts or sour foods beyond Rosh Hashanah itself.
Explanation:
One of the unique customs of Rosh Hashanah is the eating of Simanim, special foods that carry symbolic significance for the coming year. The Talmud in Horiyos teaches, “Now that you have established that an omen contains significance, therefore a person should always be accustomed to eat these foods at the start of the year.” Based on this teaching, Jews have traditionally eaten various foods on Rosh Hashanah that symbolize blessing, success, growth, and a favorable judgment. These include foods such as apples dipped in honey, dates, pomegranates, fish, and other symbolic items, each accompanied by a prayer expressing our hopes and requests for the new year.
The entire concept of Simanim is based on beginning the year with positive signs and avoiding matters that symbolically represent undesirable outcomes. Just as we seek to place before ourselves foods that symbolize sweetness, blessing, and abundance, so too many communities developed customs to refrain from foods associated with less favorable symbolism. It is within this framework that we find the custom of avoiding nuts and certain sour or sharp foods on Rosh Hashanah.
The custom of avoiding nuts is recorded by the Rishonim and codified by the Poskim. Two primary reasons are given for this practice. First, nuts increase saliva and phlegm and may interfere with one’s prayers and concentration during the holy days. Second, the Hebrew word Egoz (nut) has a numerical association with chet (sin), making it an inappropriate symbol at the very beginning of the year when we seek a favorable judgment. Although this custom is widely observed, it remains a minhag and not an actual prohibition.
Once we understand the reason behind these customs, the question becomes: For how long do they apply? So, when discussing how long these foods must be avoided, it is important to distinguish between the original custom and later community practices.
The Original Custom Was Limited to Rosh Hashanah
The simple implication of the classic Poskim is that the avoidance of these foods relates specifically to Rosh Hashanah. The purpose of the custom is connected to the unique character of the day, either because nuts increase saliva and phlegm and may interfere with one’s prayers and shofar hearing, or because of the symbolic association of the word Egoz with chet (sin). These concerns are directly tied to Rosh Hashanah itself. Accordingly, many Poskim understand that from the strict halachic perspective, the custom does not extend beyond Rosh Hashanah.
Some Extended the Custom Beyond Rosh Hashanah
Despite the above, a number of communities adopted a broader practice. Sefarim record a custom to continue avoiding nuts until after Simchas Torah. Likewise, some were careful to avoid sour or sharp foods for an extended period, particularly during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah. This is attributed to the custom of the Terumas Hadeshen who refrained from eating davar charif during the Ten Days of Repentance. These customs reflect an effort to preserve an atmosphere of judgment, repentance, and positive simanim throughout the Yamim Nora’im and, for some, throughout the Tishrei holiday season. However, these practices are customs rather than universally accepted obligations.
What Is the Chabad Custom?
Regarding Chabad practice, there is no record in Chabad literature of a custom to avoid sour foods beyond Rosh Hashanah. Furthermore, Rav Eli Landa Shlita related that in Chabad the avoidance of sour foods is observed on Rosh Hashanah itself and not afterwards. Supporting this understanding is the recorded practice of the Rebbe Rashab, who ate a very sour new fruit on the second night of Rosh Hashanah. Likewise, regarding nuts, the accepted Chabad custom is not to continue the avoidance beyond Rosh Hashanah.
Practical Guidance
Therefore, there are effectively three common approaches:
- The basic halachic approach: Avoid nuts and sour/sharp foods only on Rosh Hashanah.
- An intermediate custom: Continue avoiding sour or sharp foods through Aseres Yemei Teshuvah.
- A stricter communal custom: Continue avoiding nuts, and sometimes other unfavorable foods, until after Simchas Torah.
Since these are matters of minhag, one should follow the accepted custom of his family and community.
Sources
- Regarding the basic duration: Setimas Kol Haposkim that the avoidance applies to Rosh Hashanah; Piskei Teshuvos 583:5, 583:7.
- Regarding avoiding nuts until Simchas Torah: Beis Hayotzer 43; Ketzos Hamateh 583:16; Piskei Teshuvos 583:7.
- Regarding avoiding sharp foods during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah: Leket Yosher p. 124 regarding the Terumas Hadeshen; Piskei Teshuvos 583:5.
- Regarding those who did not continue the custom after Rosh Hashanah: Be’er Moshe 3:97 citing practices of Rav Nosson Adler and the Chasam Sofer; Piskei Teshuvos 583 footnote 38.
- Regarding Chabad custom: Testimony of Rav Eli Landa; Otzer Minhagei Chabad p. 148 regarding the Rebbe Rashab eating a very sour fruit on the second night of Rosh Hashanah; absence of any record in Chabad literature to extend the custom beyond Rosh Hashanah.