| Yehi Ratsones The Sephardic Way to Celebrate Rosh Hashana It is our tradition in the Ezra Bessaroth community and throughout the Sephardic world to perform a special seder type observance before each Rosh Hashana Dinner. This ceremony is known as the Yehi Ratsones. Each of the foods represent an omen for goodness and blessing in the coming year. To properly observe the Yehi Ratsones the following foods or dishes must be prepared in advance. Most families have their own recipes handed down from one generation to the next. If you need a recipe for any specific dish please contact us at EzraBessaroth@msn.com. 1) Apples & Honey 2) Leek Quajado (Casserole) 3) Spinach Quajado (Casserole) 4) Dates 5) Pumpkin, Squash or Gourd (usually baked with honey) 6) Black Eye Peas 7) Cheek Meat (Many families make a stew out of the Black Eye Peas and the Cheek Meat) After setting your holiday table we put out a wine filled kiddush cup, two challot and a bowl of sugar or honey. The head of the family raises a full cup of wine and recites the Kiddush. The Kiddush ON FRIDAY NIGHT 09/26, THE FOLLOWING KIDDUSH IS SAID: YOM HA-SHISHI VA-YE-CHULU HASHAMA-YIM VE-HA-ARETZ VE-CHOL TZE-VA-AM. VA-YECHAL ELO-HIM BA-YOM HA-SHEVI-EE MELACH-TO ASHER ASA VAYISH-BOT BAYOM HASHE-VI-EE MIKOL MELACHTO ASHER ASA VAYEVA-RECH ELO-HIM ET YOM HASHEVI-EE VAY-KADESH OTO KI VO SHAVAT MI-KOL MELACH-TO ASHER BARA ELO-HIM LA-A-SOT. SAVRI MARANAN (response ?.. L'Hayim) BARUCH ATA ADONAI ELO-HE-NU MELECH HA-OLAM BORE PERI HA-GE-FEN. BARUCH ATA ADONAI ELO-HE-NU MELECH HA-OLAM ASHER BACHAR BANU MIKOL AM VE-RO-ME-MANU MIKOL LASHON VE-KI-DE-SHANU BE MITZ-VOTAV VATITEN LANU ADONAI ELO-HE-NU BE-A-HA-VA ET YOM HASHABAT HAZE VE-ET YOM HAZIKARON HAZE ET YOM TOV MIKRA KODESH HAZE ZICH-RON TERU-A BE-A-HA-VA MIKRA KODESH ZECHER LITSI-AT MITZ-RA-YIM. UD-VAR-CHA MALKENU EMET VEKAYAM LA-AD. BARUCH ATA ADONAI MELECH AL KOL HA-A-RETZ MEKADESH HASHABAT VE-YISRAEL VEYOM HA-ZICARON. BARUCH ATA ADONAI ELO-HE-NU MELECH HA-OLAM SHE-HE-CHE-YANU VE-KI-YE-MANU VE-HIGI-ANU LAZEMAN HAZEH. ON SATURDAY NIGHT 09/27, THE FOLLOWING KIDDUSH IS SAID: SAVRI MARANAN (response ?.. L'Hayim) BARUCH ATA ADONAI ELO-HE-NU MELECH HA-OLAM BORE PERI HA-GE-FEN. BARUCH ATA ADONAI ELO-HE-NU MELECH HA-OLAM ASHER BACHAR BANU MIKOL AM VE-RO-ME-MANU MIKOL LASHON VE-KI-DE-SHANU BE MITZ-VOTAV VATITEN LANU ADONAI ELO-HE-NU BE-A-HA-VA ET YOM HAZIKARON HAZE ET YOM TOV MIKRA KODESH HAZE YOM TERU-A BE-A-HA-VA MIKRA KODESH ZECHER LITSI-AT MITZ-RA-YIM. UD-VAR-CHA MALKENU EMET VEKAYAM LA-AD. BARUCH ATA ADONAI MELECH AL KOL HA-A-RETZ MEKADESH YISRAEL VEYOM HA-ZICARON. BARUCH ATA ADONAI ELO-HE-NU MELECH HA-OLAM SHE-HE-CHE-YANU VE-KI-YE-MANU VE-HIGI-ANU LAZEMAN HAZE. Translation of the Kiddush: Blessed are Thou, L-rd our G-d, Ruler of the Universe, who created the fruit of the vine. Blessed are Thou, L-rd our G-d, Ruler of the Universe, who has chosen us from all peoples and singled us out from all other nations by sanctifying us with Thy commandments. Thou hast lovingly granted this festival day of holy convocation, a day of sounding the shofar, a day of holy convocation given in love, recalling our going out of Egypt. Thy word, divine King, is eternally true and enduring. Blessed are Thou, L-rd King of all the earth, who hallows Israel and the Day of Remembrance. Blessed are Thou, L-rd our G-d, Ruler of the Universe, that Thou has given us life and sustenance and brought us to this season. Every one partakes of the wine. The Hamotzi Following the Kiddush, All wash their hands ritually (Fill a cup with water and pour on each hand three times) , recite the following blessing and dry their hands. BARUCH ATA ADONAI ELO-HE-NU MELECH HA-OLAM ASHER KIDESHANU BEMITZ-VOTAV VE-TZI-VANU AL NETILAT YADAYIM. The head of the household holds up the two challot and recites the Hamotzi. BARUCH ATA ADONAI ELO-HE-NU MELECH HA-OLAM HA-MO-TZI LE-CHEM MIN HA-A-RETZ. One or both of the challot are then sliced, pieces are dipped in sugar and distributed to all of the guests. Yehi Ratsones The following is the special Rosh Hashana ceremony, the Yehi Ratsones, performed at the table following the hamotzi, each object eaten symbolizes a prayer and a good omen for the New Year. We do each food item one at a time. We serve ourselves and each guest a poRtion of the selected food. We first recite the appropriate blessing or verse in Hebrew, Ladino (and English if you wish). Only after reciting the appropriate verses do we eat the food item. 1. APPLES DIPPED IN HONEY: YEHI RA-TZON MI-LE-FANE-CHA ADONAI E-LO-HE-NU VE-LO-HE AVOTE-NU SHE-TIT-CHA-DESH A-LENU SHANA TOVA U-ME-TUKA ME-RESHIT HA-SHANA VE-AD ACHA-RIT HA-SHANA. (In Ladino) SEA VELONTAD DELANTRE DE TI ADONAI NUESTRO DIO Y DIO DE NUESTROS PADRES KE SE RENOVE SOVRE NOZOTROS ANYADA BUENA Y DULSE DE PRESIPIO DE EL ANYO Y ASTA KAVO DE EL ANYO. (Translation) May it be Thy will, L-rd our G-d and G-d of our Fathers to renew upon us a good and sweet year, from the beginning of the year until the end of the year. Say this blessing and than eat the apple & honey: BARUCH ATA ADONAI ELO-HE-NU MELECH HA-OLAM BORE PERI HA-ETZ. 2. PRASSA- LEEK : YEHI RA-TZON MI-LE-FANE-CHA ADONAI E-LO-HE-NU VE-LO-HE AVOTE-NU SHE-YI-KARTU OY-VE-CHA VE-SON-E-CHA VE-CHOL ME-VAK-SHE RA-A-TENU. TARUM YAD-CHA AL TZA-RE-CHA VE-CHOL OY-VE-CHA YI-KA-RETU. (In Ladino) SEA VELONTAD DELANTRE DE TI ADONAI NUESTRO DIO Y DIO DE NUESTROS PADRES KE SE TAJEN TUS ENIMIGOS Y TUS ABORESYENTES Y TODOS BUSHKANTES NUESTRO MAL. ENALTESE TU MANO SOVRE TUS ANGUSTIADORES Y TODOS TUS ENIMIGOS SERAN TAJADOS. (translation) May it by Thy will, L-rd our G-d and G-d of our Fathers that your enemies and your abhorrent and those who seek out our evil shall be utterly cut off (extirpated). May your power be raised against your troublemakers and all your enemies shall be utterly cut off. Eat the leek. 3. SPINAKA.-SPINACH : YEHI RA-TZON MI-LE-FANE-CHA ADONAI E-LO-HE-NU VE-LO-HE AVOTE-NU SHE-YIS-TAL-KU OY-VE-CHA VE-SON-E-CHA VE-CHOL ME-VAK-SHE RA-A-TENU. SURU MIMENI KOL PO-A-LEI AVEN KI SHAMA ADONAI KOL BICH-YI SURU SURU TZE-U MISHAM TAMEH AL TI-GA0U TZE-U MI-TO-CHA HI-BARU NOS-EI KLEI ADONAI. (In Ladino) SEA VELONTAD DELANTRE DE TI ADONAI NUESTRO DIO Y DIO DE NUESTROS PADRES KE SE APARTEN TUS ENIMIGOS Y TUS ABORESYENTES Y TODOS BUSHKANTES NUESTRO MAL. TIRADVOS DE MI TODOS OVRANTES TORTURA KE OYO ADONAI BOZ DE MI YORO TIRADVOS TIRADVOS SALID DE AYI ENKANADO NON TOKESH SALID DE ENTRE EYA SE-ED LIMPYOS YEVANTES ARMAS DE ADONAI. (translation) May it by Thy will, L-rd our G-d and G-d of our Fathers that your enemies and abhorrent and all those who seek out our evil shall be removed. Remove from me all workers of iniquity because the L-rd has heard the voice of my cry. Cast off, cast off - go out of there - do not touch the unclean - Go out of there - Cleanse yourselves all you who carry arms of the L-rd. Eat the spinach. 4. DATLES-DATES YEHI RA-TZON MI-LE-FANE-CHA ADONAI E-LO-HE-NU VE-LO-HE AVOTE-NU SHE-YI-TAMU OY-VE-CHA VE-SON-E-CHA VE-CHOL ME-VAK-SHE RA-A-TENU. YITAMU CHA-TA-IM MIN HA-A-RETZ UR-SHA-IM OD E-NAM BA-RECHI NAFSHI ET ADONAI UV-CHAS-DE-CHA TA-TZMIT OY-VAI VE-HA-A-VADTA KOL TZO-RE-RE NAFSHI KI ANI AV-DE-CHA. (In Ladino) SEA VELONTAD DELANTRE DE TI ADONAI NUESTRO DIO Y DIO DE NUESTROS PADRES KE SE ATEMEN TUS ENIMIGOS Y TUS ABORESYENTES Y TODOS BUSHKANTES NUESTRO MAL. SE ATEMEN PECADORES DE LA TIERRA Y MALOS MAS NON AIGA. BENDIZE MI ALMA A ADONI Y KON TUS MERSEDES TAJARAS MIS ENIMIGOS Y DEPIEDRERAS TODOS ANGUSTIADORES DE MI ALMA KE YO TU SYERVO. (Translation) May it by Thy will, L-rd our G-d and G-d of our Fathers that your enemies and abhorrent and all those who seek out our evil shall be utterly consumed. May sinners completely vanish from earth, and may there be no more wicked ones. May my soul bless G-d and with Your Mercy destroy my enemies- all those who trouble my soul shall you cause to be lost because I am your servant. Eat the dates. 5. KALAVASA ? PUMPKIN,SQUASH OR GOURD YEHI RA-TZON MI-LE-FANE-CHA ADONAI E-LO-HE-NU VE-LO-HE AVOTE-NU SHE-TIK-RA RO-A GE-ZAR DINENU VEYI-KA-RE-U LE-FANE-CHA ZA-CHI-YO-TENU. (In Ladino) SEA VELONTAD DELANTRE DE TI ADONAI NUESTRO DIO Y DIO DE NUESTROS PADRES KE ARAZGES MALISYA DE SETENSYA DE NUESTRO JUZGO Y KE SE MELDEN DELANTRE DE TI NUESTROS ZACHUYOT. (Translation) May it by Thy will, L-rd our G-d and G-d of our Fathers that you should tear up our evil decree and let there be read before You our merits. Eat the Squash. 6. FIJONES ? BLACK EYED PEAS YEHI RA-TZON MI-LE-FANE-CHA ADONAI E-LO-HE-NU VE-LO-HE AVOTE-NU SHE-YIR-BU ZACHI-YO-TENU. (In Ladino) SEA VELONTAD DELANTRE DE TI ADONAI NUESTRO DIO Y DIO DE NUESTROS PADRES KE SE MENCHUAN NUESTRO ZACHUYOT. (Translation) May it by Thy will, L-rd our G-d and G-d of our Fathers that our merits may multiply. Eat the Black Eyed Peas. 7. CABEZA ? SHEEP OR FISH HEAD (CHEEK MEAT) YEHI RA-TZON MI-LE-FANE-CHA ADONAI E-LO-HE-NU VE-LO-HE AVOTE-NU SHE-NI-HYE LE-ROSH VE-LO LE-ZANAV. VETIZKOR LANU E-LO SHEL YITZ-CHAK AVINU. (In Ladino) SEA VELONTAD DELANTRE DE TI ADONAI NUESTRO DIO Y DIO DE NUESTROS PADRES KE SEIAMOS POR KAVESERA Y NON POR COLA. Y ACODRA A NOZOTROS SU BARVEZ DE YITZCHAK NUESTRO PADRE. (Translation) May it by Thy will, L-rd our G-d and G-d of our Fathers that we may be on the forefront as the head and not in the background as the tail. (In remembrance of the ram of Isaac our Forefather - may he rest in peace.) Eat the cheek meat. Folowing the Yehi Ratsones we begin the Rosh Hashana Meal followed by the Birkat Hamazon (Grace After Meals) |
