Siman 583

We learn in Keritot (6a): Abaye said: Now that you have said that a sign is a significant matter—a person should be accustomed to eat at the beginning of the year rubia, karti, silki, tamri, and kara. And when he eats rubia he says: "May it be Your will that our merits increase." Karti: "May our enemies be cut off." Silki: "May our adversaries be removed." Tamri: "May our enemies be consumed." Kara: "May the decree of our judgment be torn, and may our merits be read before You." And one follows in this according to the language of the country. Therefore, among us, we cook ribn, mehren, and kirbes, which we consider to be kara, and kroit, which is like kara, and similar things to these. And every place follows its custom. And regarding fish—there are those who seek out a species of fish called "kart," and it is like karti. And for every good thing—we say the "May it be Your will" regarding ourselves, and if it is the opposite—we say it regarding our enemies.

And some are accustomed to eat a sweet apple in honey, and they say: "May a good and sweet year be renewed for us." And he should recite the blessing "Who creates the fruit of the tree"; and the blessing of Hamotzi does not exempt it, for this is not something that comes as part of the meal. And it is obvious that he tastes it, and afterward says the "May it be Your will," and he should not interrupt between the blessing and the eating. Or he may say the "May it be Your will" before the blessing (see Magen Avraham, subsection 2). And some eat pomegranates, and say: "May our merits increase like a pomegranate." And in our lands pomegranates are not common, and we are accustomed to eat fatty meat, and all kinds of sweets, so that our portion shall be fat and sweet.

And they eat the head of a sheep, and say: "May we be for a head and not for a tail." And furthermore: to remember the ram of Yitzchak. And because of the first reason, they eat the head of every type of fish. And they also eat the "Hamotzi" dipped in honey. And there are those who are meticulous not to eat walnuts, for "egoz" in gematria is "chet." And there are those who do not dip in vinegar, and do not eat sour things on the first night, nor bitter things. And peppers that are added to foods are not included in this, for they improve the food, like fish which is impossible to eat without peppers. And also they should not eat things that increase phlegm and mucus, and would be an interruption in prayer, such as walnuts and hazelnuts and the like.

Some are accustomed not to sleep during the day on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, based on the Yerushalmi. The Arizal said that after midday, and after the shofar blasts—they may sleep. One who sits idle is considered like one who sleeps. And some are accustomed to go on the first day of Rosh Hashanah to the river, and to say the verses "And You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins." And they call this "Tashlikh." And they should warn that women should not go. And in places where they do go—it is better that the men should not go at all. For even without this, there are those who complain about this in this time, and many refrain from this because of a reason known to them, and it is correct.