This time of the year, when the first signs of fall are evident and Rosh Hashanah is on its way, is the season of the Barhi yellow fresh dates.
And it must have been in season for Rosh Hashanah in the time of the Babylonian Talmud, since in two of its passages (Horayot 12a and Keritot 6a) dates are mentioned as one of the foods to eat during the holiday.
Dates remained part of the Sephardi Rosh hashanah seder at homes around the world until today. It is part of the Yehi Ratzon blessings, that are based on either the symbolism of the fruit or on a word game in Hebrew or Aramiac. For example, before eating the pomegranate we wish to do as many mitzvot in the coming year as the number of the seeds in it. And it is said that every pomegranate has exactly 613 seeds as the number of mitzvot (and I dare any of you to try and count them).
The Hebrew word for date, Tamar, comes from the same root as Tam, finished, or ceased to exist. Before eating the dates on Erev Rosh Hashanah we ask God to bring an end to all our enemies.
You can find the yellow dates during the month of September at Middle Eastern grocery stores. They are sold unripe and not quite ready to eat. To ripen them simply let the dates stand at room temperature, and you’ll notice that the skin on some of them begins to wrinkle and the flesh is softer. At that point you can try eating them, and although they’ll still taste a little unripe, this is their natural character. If you let them ripen even more they’ll become brown and very soft. Peel the dates and taste – this will be the most delicious date you’ve ever eaten. To make the dates tender (although not ripe) you can put the dates in the freezer for a couple of days. After you thaw them they’ll be softer.
Other varieties of dates are available all year long, and besides eating them as they are, you can try filling the dates with marzipan, or stuffing with goat cheese and baking for 5 minutes. Another use of dates is to replace honey with Silan, the date syrup used by the Jews from Iraq. Mix it with tahini paste for a home-made halva spread that goes great on a slice of bread or on vanilla ice-cream.
Have a sweet new year, and may all our enemies come to an end!
For a date and honey cake look here.
