The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashana Starts on September 29-October 1

Rosh Hashana, or the Jewish New Year is a very important Jewish Holiday and next week it is celebrated starting at Sundown on Sunday, September 29 thru Tuesday, October 1, 2019. 

Here is information on where you can celebrate Rosh Hashana in Santa Barbara County. (Get your temple added by emailing sharonr@macaronikid.com with your link)

SANTA BARBARA

For all your Rosh Hashana Services in the Santa Barbara area visit https://jewishsantabarbara.org/home/high-holiday-services-schedule

• Chabad of Santa Barbara
• Community Shul of Montecito and Santa Barbara
• Congregation B'nai B'rith
• Mesa Shul (Modern Orthodox) Schedule  - Website
• Santa Barbara Hillel

LOS OLIVOS

SYV Jewish Community

SANTA MARIA

Temple Beth El

VENTURA

• Chabad of Ventura Events 
• Congregation Am Hayam in Ventura 
• Temple Beth Torah in Ventura

OJAI

• Ojai Community Temple 
• Chabad of Ojai Events 

• Honey Bee Rosh Hashana Cards
• Hand Print Rosh Hashana Cards
• Apple Lacing Card

Rosh Hashana is the start of the Jewish New Year. This holiday is also called the Day of Judgment, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Shofar Blowing. During the two days of this holiday, Jews attend services at Synagogues or Temples where they will pray for a sweet year full of blessings, ask their families and friends for forgiveness for any transgression and hear the blowing of the Shofar (a Ram's Horn). 

Kids can make their own Shofar at http://joyfuljewish.wordpress.com

THE FAMILY MEAL

One of the funnest parts of this holiday is the nightly meal where Jews get together for a large family dinner, where they eat round Raisin Challah's or Egg Bread and dip Apples in the Honey, as symbol of having a sweet New Year. Traditionally, the  meals provide a wonderful opportunity for family to get together, enjoy each other, reflect on the past year and be optimistic for the upcoming year. Some fun foods to enjoy while celebrating this holiday are Apples dipped in Honey, Sweet Carrot Tsimmes, the round Challah or Egg Bread with Raisins and Honey Cakes. 

Here is a yummy Honey Cake Recipe I make every year:

Spiced Chocolate Honey Cake:

Ingredients: 

• 3 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 
• 1 cup vegetable oil 
• 1 cup honey (preferably Avocado Honey) - I also usually double the honey for extra sweetness
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 large eggs 
• 1 can Pepsi beverage 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
• 1/2 cup non dairy chocolate chips 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C). 
2. Grease 2 tube cake pans. Set aside. 
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground cloves and allspice. Set aside. 
4. In bowl combine honey, oil, and both sugars. 
5. Beat mixture on low to medium-low speed for 1 minute or until its mixed well. 
6. Add in the eggs, Pepsi and vanilla and beat for 2 to 3 minutes on low speed. 
7. Slowly add in the flour mixture and beat on medium-low speed for another 2 minutes until batter is smooth and well combined.
8. Fold in chocolate chips.
9. Pour batter into the prepared tube pans and bake 350 degree F (180 C) oven for 50 to 65 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center of cake comes out clean (without any moist crumbs). 
10. Remove from oven and let cake cool in pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto wire rack and let cake cool completely. 
11. When cake has cooled, transfer to a serving plate or platter or freeze like I do until I need to serve it. 

Gan Camarillo Preschool also shared with us ways to educate your child on the holiday with this fun sheet of activities:



Info on Rosh Hashana provided by Leah Lang, the Director of Education at the Gan Camarillo Preschool in Camarillo. You may contact her at leahlang@gmail.com  or visit the Gan Camarillo Preschool Blog Page .