The Sephardic Way to Celebrate Rosh Hashana: Yehi Ratsones

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 represents 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.

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. followed by Netilat Yadaim (washing of the hands) and Hamotzi.

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 RATZON MI-LE-FANE-CHA ADONAI ELOHENU VELOHE AVOTENU SHETIT-CHADESH ALENU SHANA TOVA U- METUKA ME- RESHIT HA-SHANA VEAD ACHARIT HA- SHANA.

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.

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:: BARUCH ATA ADONAI ELOHENU MELECH HAOLAM BORE PERI HAETZ.

Eat the apple & honey

2. PRASSA- LEEK :

YEHI RATZON MI-LE-FANE-CHA ADONAI ELOHENU VELOHE AVOTENU SHE YIKARTU OYVECHA VESONECHA VECHOL MEVAK SHERA ATENU. TARUM YADCHA AL TZARECHA VECHOL OYVECHA YIKARETU.

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 AJADOS.

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 RATZON MILEFANECHA ADONAI ELOHENU VELOHE AVOTENU SHE YISTALKU OYVECHA VESONECHA VECHOL MEVAKSHE RAATENU. SURU MIMENI KOL POALEI AVEN KI SHAMA ADONAI KOL BICHYI SURU SURU. TZEU MISHAM TAMEH AL TIGAOU TZEU MITOCHA HI-BARU NOSEI KLEI ADONAI.

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 SED LIMPYOS YEVANTES ARMAS DE ADONAI.

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. DATILES- DATES

YEHI RATZON MILEFANECHA ADONAI ELOHENU VELOHE AVOTENU SHEYITAMU OYVECHA VESONECHA VECHOL MEVAKSHERA ATENU. YITAMU CHATAIM MIN HAARETZ URSHAIM OD ENAM BARECHI NAFSHI ET ADONAI UV CHASDECHA TATZMIT OY VAIVEHA AVADTA KOL TZO-RERE NAFSHI KI ANI AVDECHA.

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.

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 RATZON MILEFANECHA ADONAI ELOHENU VELOHE AVOTENU SHE TIKRAROA GEZAR DINENU VEYIKAREU LEANECHA ZACHIYOTENU.

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.

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 RATZON MILEFANECHA ADONAI ELOHENU VELOHE AVOTENU SHEYIR- BUZACHI- YOTENU.

LADINO:

SEA VELONTAD DELANTRE DE TI ADONAI NUESTRO DIO Y DIO DE NUESTROS PADRES KE SE MENCHUAN NUESTRO ZACHUYOT

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 RATZON MI-LEFANECHA ADONAI ELOHENU VELOHE AVOTENU SHENIHYE LE-ROSH VEL LEZANAV. VETIZKOR LANU ELO SHEL YITZCHAK AVINU.

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 BAR VEZ DE YITZCHAK NUESTRO PADRE.

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.

Shaná Tová!

Enrique Levy