Holidays

• Tu B'Shevat (Los Frutas) - These pages have a Ladino poem by Jehuda Kalazh, I am not sure of the date, but a version was in print in 1892. Sephardim traditionally have a short "seder" for Tu B'Sh'vat. This seder uses the produce mentioned in D'varim (8:8) and those mentioned in Shir HaShirim. The verse is recited along with a Ladino (and now English) translation, then the appropriate blessing for the food is made. To avoid, repeating a blessing for any individual (which would be 'in vain'), blessings for items that would use the same blessing are done by different people. A challenge for youngsters at the table is to be the first to cite or find the biblical verse. This seder can be found in the link below.
  • Complas de los Frutas -- follow this link for the poem/song
  • A Sephardic Tu B'Shevat Seder -- follow this link for our family version of this seder.

 

• Seder Seudat Rosh Hashanah - This page has a traditional Sephardi (Turkish, Judeo-Spanish Minhag) seder in Hebrew, English and Ladino for the erev Rosh Hashanah meal. It is a short introduction to the festive meal using a variety of symbolic foods in our wish for a good year. In addition to the apple and honey that most of you are familiar with, it includes a variety of other foods chosen either because of their inherent symbolism or because the Hebrew words for these foods allow for some fun puns. (see Talmud:Horayoth 12a or K’rithoth 6a). The borei pri a'etz and the borei pri a'adama are included at the first requirement in the ceremony. Customs vary on their inclusion; if you say amotzi before beginning, these are technically redundant and some would treat that as taking the name in vain. Therefore many who want to include them, say amotzi after this introduction. The Livorno mahzor does not include pri a'etz or pri a'adamah. The DeSola Pool mahzor includes them even after saying amotzi. So there appears to be adequate authority for whatever variation you have. If you can identify a family custom, stick with it. By the way, for my Ashkenazi friends, this also provides a prayer based on fish, the reason you use gefilte fish. The traditional fish in my household was a raw marinated mackerel called likierda. Today, our household uses fresh sushi (obviously only the kosher varieties). This link takes you to a Word version designed for printing as a 2-sided bi-fold sheet for handout at your meal.