When you think of matzah ball soup, do you think of Passover at your auntie’s house where the cauldron-sized pot is overflowing with savory carrots and celery? When you taste poppy-seed hamantaschen, do you think of your abba (Hebrew for father) as he meticulously rolls out the dough before Purim?  Every holiday offers an array of familiar and comforting flavors that are sure to evoke memories around the kitchen table. Food reminds us of our roots, our home, our past, and our peoplehood. This High Holiday season, we are reminded of the aromas and tastes that connect us from generation to generation. 

Luisa Hagemeier from Challahrado Hearth explains that she focuses her attention on brisket (always with a full bottle of Heinz ketchup and a bay leaf) during the High Holidays. She says, “I use my mother’s recipe, which was most likely my grandmother Lena’s. My mother, Judith, didn’t cook anything during the year. Then sure enough when the holidays rolled around, she would pull out her blue Købensyle Dansk casserole pot. I still use that pot to make my roast! I always burn the bottom and it’s impossible to get the burnt off.” The blue pot, although worn and sporting permanent burn markings from overuse and love, carries the flavors of past Rosh Hashanahs that were enjoyed by Luisa’s whole family. It has been passed from grandmother to mother to daughter and will continue to be passed on to make Judith’s famous brisket. Luisa adds, “I’m not usually a meat eater, but I love this brisket because of the memory associated. It’s comfortable, warm, and reminds me of my family. I didn’t know my grandmother Lena. My mother is gone now. I think about them all the time, but especially when I make this brisket.” Food possesses an indescribable power – it conjures up feelings, memories, and people who are now only with us in spirit, memory, and recipe. Cooking a family member’s recipe allows for a relationship with them, even if we never had the privilege of knowing them. Food and tradition connect generations.  

For many, the High Holidays are filled with sweetness. We eat apples, honey, cinnamon, and raisins on Rosh Hashanah (September 22 – 24) to share in the hope of a new year that is joyous, filling, and delicious. Yet on Yom Kippur (October 1 – 2), the Book of Life is sealed, and with it is the understanding that this year may also bring bitterness, loss, and uncertainty. This precious time in the Jewish calendar prompts us to remember that our lives, although delicate, are constantly impacting the world around us and connecting us to one another through space and time. 

As you enjoy your Rosh Hashanah meal and Break the Fast surrounded by loved ones, the Jewish Community Center of Denver invites you to fill your belly, heart, and soul with warmth, reflection, and sweetness. Tradition, legacy, and your grandma’s brisket recipe live through you.