4 Rosh HaShanah Facts you Might not Know

Rosh Hashanah was not always the Jewish New Year.

1. In the Torah, the beginning of the year was clearly set at the beginning of the month of Nisan, in the spring. However, sometime between the giving of the Torah and the codification of the Mishnah, Rosh Hashanah became the primary new year. 

2. It’s traditional to eat a fruit you haven’t eaten for a long time on the second night of Rosh Hashanah. This tasty custom is often observed by eating a pomegranate, a fruit rich in symbolism (and nutrients). It developed as a technical solution to a legal difficulty surrounding the recitation of the Shehechiyanu blessing on the second day of the holiday. Use it as an excuse to scout out the “exotic fruit” section of your grocery store’s produce department.

3. Carrots represent abundance in the new year, especially if cut into coin shapes. : In Yiddish, the word for carrots, mehren, sounds like the Yiddish word meaning both “more” and “to multiply.” 

4. Leeks, beets or dates are foods mentioned in the Talmud and, through wordplay, associated with the removal of enemies and the continuation of blessing.

Decorating with Olive Branches New Collection

Olive Branches: Modern Heirloom Botanicals: Timeless Beauty for Every Table

There is something comforting about gathering around a beautifully set table. It doesn't have to be elaborate or reserved for holidays. The smallest details—a thoughtfully chosen table runner, soft botanical napkins, or a favorite mug—can transform an everyday meal into a meaningful moment.

Olive Branch Napkins

The Meaning Behind the Botanicals

For centuries, olive branches have symbolized peace, hope, and abundance. Their graceful leaves bring an effortless elegance that feels equally at home in modern, farmhouse, Mediterranean, or classic interiors.

Love Lights the Season Botanical Personalized Ornament 

Abstract Olives and Leaves Watercolor Botanical Table Runner

You can mix and match with the olive branch designs for the same color palette.

A botanical table runner paired with coordinating napkins instantly elevates the table without feeling formal. Add white dinnerware, clear glassware, wooden serving pieces, and a few fresh olive branches or pomegranates for a relaxed yet elegant look.

Powered by Coffee & Chutzpah Coffee Mug

Browse the collection and discover timeless pieces designed to be enjoyed today and treasured for years to come.

Comment and tell me which is your favorite design?

Jewish New Year Gift Guide🍎🍯

As the Jewish New Year approaches, homes fill with the comforting traditions of apples dipped in honey, beautifully set tables, and wishes for a Shanah Tovah—a happy, healthy, and sweet new year. Whether you're shopping for a hostess, a newly married couple, a family member, or treating yourself to something beautiful, heirloom-inspired home décor makes a meaningful gift that can be enjoyed year after year.

Here are four thoughtful gifts from my Etsy shop that celebrate the beauty and traditions of Rosh HaShanah.

Best Selling Shana Tovah Napkins: These reusable napkins become part of cherished family meals and make a lovely keepsake for years to come.

Apples and Honey Dish Towel: This charming Apples & Honey kitchen towel celebrates one of Judaism's sweetest traditions while adding seasonal warmth to the kitchen. Display it on the oven handle or gift it alongside local honey, fresh apples, or homemade challah for a thoughtful holiday basket.

Pomegranate Modern Heirloom Table Runner: Inspired by Mediterranean botanical gardens, this Pomegranate Table Runner brings timeless elegance to holiday entertaining. Its sophisticated design works beautifully for Rosh HaShanah while remaining stylish enough to enjoy throughout the fall season.

Borei Pri HaCoffee Mug:  Every Jewish home deserves a little humor.

For the coffee lover who appreciates a clever Jewish twist, the Borei Pri HaCoffee Mug adds smiles to busy mornings before holiday preparations begin. It's the perfect blend of tradition, personality, and everyday usefulness. Because sometimes coffee deserves its own blessing.

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Bagels, Cheesecake & a Little Hanukkah Magic

July 26 - NATIONAL BAGELFEST DAY

Polish-Jewish immigrants introduced the bagel to the United States some time during the 19th century. 

The bagel became more common throughout North America during the last quarter of the 20th century. Credit for the bagels' spread across the country goes in part to the efforts of bagel baker Harry Lender, his son, Murray Lender, and Florence Lender. Their pioneering efforts led to the automated production and distribution of frozen bagels in the 1960s. Murray also invented pre-slicing the bagel.

July 27 - Notable Birthdays 

Robert May (1905-1976) - Creator of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Maya Rudolph (1972-) - Actress known for her roles in the Grown Ups movies, Bridesmaids, and First 50 Dates (was on Saturday Night Live in 2000-2007). 

July 30 - National Cheesecake Day - A form of the dessert comes up as a recipe served to athletes in ancient Greece. It has been found that the earliest attested mention of a cheesecake is by Greek physician Aegimus, who wrote a book on the art of making cheesecakes in the second century AD.

New listing:

Weekly Special Offer: Wire kippah 60% off 

Which of the 3 designs is your favorite? Drop a comment below. 

Tisha B'av - Destruction of the Holy Temple

On Tisha B’Av, the 9th day of the month of Av (July 22-23, 2026), we mark the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem with a day of communal mourning and fasting to commemorate a catastrophic list of tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people throughout history, culminating in the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. 

Other horrible things happened on that day too: 

In 313 BCE, the spies returned from the Promised Land with frightening reports, and the Israelites balked at the prospect of entering the land. G‑d decreed that they would therefore wander in the desert for 40 years.

Both Holy Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed on this date. The First Temple was burned by the Babylonians in 423 BCE and the Second Temple fell to the Romans in 69 CE unleashing a period of suffering from which our nation has never fully recovered.

In 133 CE The Bar Kochba revolt against the Romans ended in defeat. The Jews of Betar were butchered on the 9th of Av and the Temple Mount was plowed one year later on the same date. 

Later on in our history, many more tragedies happened on this day, including the 1290 expulsion of England’s Jews and the 1492 banishment of all Jews from Spain.

In 1914, Germany officially declared war on Russia, igniting World War I—a conflict many historians link to the geopolitical conditions that led to the Holocaust.

In 1942, During the Holocaust, the Nazis began the mass deportation of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto to the Treblinka extermination camp. 

Even as we mourn, there is an element of joy and comfort. Indeed, the reading of Eichah concludes with the verse “Restore us to You, O L‑rd, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old.” 

The secret Jewish history behind your chocolate bar 🍫

The secret Jewish history behind your chocolate bar 🍫

Chocolate has its origins in pre-Columbian Meso-American societies, particularly in the religious ceremonies of the Mayans. Recipes for drinking chocolate from this period connect the deep affinity for chocolate to Central and South American cultures. 

This week's specials: see pictures and links for more information

As Sephardi and Crypto Jews settled in New Spain in the mid-1600s, they became part of the existing chocolate culture, contributing to its development and incorporating chocolate into their culinary traditions. This migration played a role in spreading and shaping chocolate practices in the Americas.

Rabbi Deborah Prinz, the author of “On the Chocolate Trail: A Delicious Adventure Connecting Jews, Religions, History, Travel, Rituals, and Recipes to the Magic of Cacao,” unveils a fascinating nugget about hot chocolate. The original hot chocolate had no milk; that addition came much later with the invention of powdered milk. Even more intriguing, Jews played a significant role in introducing chocolate as a beverage to Europe and various parts of the Americas.

Later in the 1700s (December 16, 1773, to be exact), a group of colonists disguised as Native Americans tossed British tea into the Boston Harbor as a protest against unjust taxes. After all the tea was dumped, colonial Americans needed a new drink, which was  when hot chocolate gained popularity. This shift was facilitated by the presence of 18th-century Jewish immigrants, who brought their chocolate making know-how to places like New York and Newport, Rhode Island.

Which is your favorite design?

Source: Kveller

Rosh HaShanah Starts Sept. 11

It's coming! The Jewish New Year starts in two months. We're invited to slow down, gather with loved ones, and welcome a fresh beginning. Rosh HaShanah begins at sundown on Friday, September 11, ushering in a season of reflection, gratitude, and hope for the year ahead. More than simply marking the start of a new calendar year, Rosh HaShanah is a time to pause, appreciate life's blessings, and set heartfelt intentions for the months to come. Families and friends gather around beautifully prepared tables to share festive meals, reconnect, and celebrate the traditions that have been passed down through generations.

Many beloved customs make Rosh HaShanah meals especially meaningful. Apples dipped in honey symbolize the wish for a sweet new year, while round challah represents the cycle of life and the continuity of the seasons. Pomegranates, with their many seeds, remind us of abundance and the hope that our good deeds will multiply in the coming year. The sound of the shofar calls us to reflection and renewal, encouraging us to look forward with compassion, purpose, and optimism. Whether your celebration is a large family gathering or an intimate dinner, creating a warm and welcoming table becomes part of the holiday itself.

A thoughtfully decorated holiday table helps transform an ordinary meal into a treasured family tradition. Elegant table runners and coordinating napkins add beauty while creating a welcoming space where stories are shared, blessings are spoken, and memories are made. Whether your style leans toward timeless blue and white, modern heirloom patterns, or subtle botanical designs, your holiday décor can reflect both your personal style and your connection to Jewish heritage. 

Check out my new Modern Heirloom Table Linens section

As you prepare your home for Rosh HaShanah, may your table be filled with laughter, meaningful conversation, and wishes for a sweet, healthy, and peaceful New Year.