| Deuteronomy / Devarim 25:1 | And G-d will make you the head and not the tail; you will be only above and not below, because you heeded the mitzvot of G-d which I am giving you this day to keep and to do. | וּנְתָנְךָ ה’ לְרֹאשׁ וְלֹא לְזָנָב וְהָיִיתָ רַק לְמַעְלָה וְלֹא תִהְיֶה לְמָטָּה כִּי־תִשְׁמַע אֶל־מִצְוֺת ה’ אֱלֹ’ךָ אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם לִשְׁמֹר וְלַעֲשׂוֹת׃ |
Parashat Ki Tavo, which is always read shortly before Rosh Hashana, includes amongst the blessings that if we keep the mitzvot we will be “the head and not the tail” (which I far prefer to the curse resulting from the opposite behavior in Deut. 28:14).
On Rosh Hashana, we have a tradition of eating foods that are “simanim,” or good omens (lit. signs) for the year to come. One is to have a fish head on the table, or whole fish with heads.
Modern children are not accustomed to seeing fish heads; tangerines may be less scary.
Ingredients as shown:
- 1 Tangerine
- 1 Raisin
Tools:
- Knife (plastic or dull is fine) (optional)
Instructions:
- Peal Tangerine and separate out pieces (keep one half intact if you want to follow the second option shown above).
2. Cut one piece in half crosswise.
3. Place head, then body, then tail as shown, and then add fins.
4. Flatten raisin so it will easily sit on the face as an “eye.” Place it as shown.
5. Then move the tail away, so we remember that is NOT what we want to be.