Rosh Hashanah: Ensuring Our 'Symbols' for the New Year Are Kosher

On Rosh Hashanah, it is customary to eat specific foods accompanied with prayers for the new year. This custom dates back millennia and is mentioned in the Talmud.

Here we present you with a concise guide to making sure that these foods (called "simanim—symbols") are truly kosher and free of bugs.

Dried Dates - Cut the fruit lengthwise with a knife, open it, and remove the pit. If dark "crumbs" can be seen around the pit (these are worm secretions), do not use that date. If there are no such "crumbs," hold the open date against a light source (strong natural light or electric), and check both the inside and outside for insects.

In dates which have been in storage for a while, white sugar crystals may appear, and they are not a sign of infestation.

Fresh Dates - Large dates sold refrigerated, with a smooth, dark brown outer layer, are usually clean and do not require inspection.

Pomegranate - Check if there is a hole in the fruit's skin, which indicates worm entry. Open the pomegranate, and if brown areas are found, check among the seeds for worms. Superficial dark spots on pomegranate seeds are not a sign of infestation. Pomegranates grown in private gardens have a higher infestation rate.

Apples - High-quality apples are assumed clean. For medium-quality apples, check the fruit's skin for worm entry marks, which look like a sunken brown-grey scab, and remove the infested area.

Rarely, brown-grey scale insects can appear on the apple's skin, causing red spots. Remove the scale insects by gently scraping with a knife. The red color remaining on the skin after removing the insect is permissible to eat.

Carrots - Of superior quality are assumed clean.

Gourd (קרא) - Assumed clean and does not require inspection.

Fish Head - The heads of carp, mullet, and whitefish should be bought from stores under strict kosher supervision as they are frequently infested with worms.

Salmon Head - Should be opened, gills removed, washed thoroughly, and checked for brown parasites about 0.5-2 inches long (even in fish sold under strict kosher supervision, this infestation may occur).

Other Fish Heads - Generally clean.

Fresh Black-Eyed Peas - Open the pods and check the beans for gnawing or worm entry marks, and remove infested beans.

Dried Black-Eyed Peas - These are frequently infested and must be checked very carefully using the following method:

1. Boiling: Boil the beans in a pot with three times their volume in water. After the water boils, turn off the heat and leave covered for about three hours.

2. Inspection: Spread about 10-15 beans in your palm, and look for dark spots under the thin skin. Place your other hand on top of the beans, flip your hands, and inspect the other side the same way. If a dark spot is seen under the skin, peel and check for insects.

The black spot on the bean's skin is a natural feature, and superficial brown or orange spots are also not a sign of infestation.

If you find three infested beans, open and inspect them all. If many are infested, the beans should be discarded.

Beet Leaves - These are frequently infested with insects; furthermore, larvae can be embedded within the leaf in which case they cannot be removed by washing. It is therefore recommended to use only beet leaves which come packaged with kashrut certification and to follow the instructions on the packaging (which will usually involve soaking in soapy water and then washing each leaf thoroughly).

Red Beet - Slice the beet across, into one-inch slices, and check for white caterpillar burrows; remove infested areas. This can also be done after cooking.

Leek - Cut and remove: A. The green leaves. B. One centimeter of the root area at the other end. C. The outer layer.

Cut lengthwise through the central white part of the leek, separate all the layers, and soak them in soapy water for three minutes. Wash each layer under a stream of water, gently rubbing along their length on both sides with your fingers.

Honey - Assumed clean.