Sweet Simanim: Ringing in Rosh Hashanah with Recipes and Stories of Madrid

Did you know there’s more than one seder in the Jewish year? In Sephardic tradition, Rosh Hashanah begins with a seder featuring simanim—symbolic foods eaten or blessed in a set order to invite sweetness, abundance, and blessing for the year ahead. Join Sara Gardner as we dive into the history of this flavorful custom and discover how it comes to life each year in the Reform Jewish Community of Madrid. Together, we’ll explore the sources of the tradition, cook and taste recipes from Sara’s debut cookbook, The Rosh Hashanah Seder Cookbook: Stories and Recipes from the Reform Jewish Community of Madrid, and share ideas for making your holiday table extra meaningful (and delicious). Perfect for anyone looking to enrich their Rosh Hashanah with new flavors, stories, and traditions!

This class is not eligible for any discounts.

Sara M. Gardner is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies at the University of Minnesota. Her work focuses on the culinary heritage and cultural identity of the Sephardic Jews. Previously, she served as the Collaborations Manager for the Jewish Arts Collaborative and the Associate Director for Young Adult Programs at Hebrew College in Newton, Massachusetts. From 2016-2017, Sara lived and researched medieval Sephardic culinary heritage in Spain as a Fulbright Graduate Research Scholar. She has presented her work at various international conferences, including the Modern Language Association, the Oxford Symposium on Food & Cookery, and the Dublin Gastronomy Symposium. Sara is also a published cookbook author; her first cookbook is entitled The Rosh Hashanah Seder Cookbook: Stories and Recipes from the Reform Jewish Community of Madrid (2018). When she's not in the archive or writing her dissertation, Sara loves to paint watercolors, FaceTime with her niblings, and to experiment with Jewish diasporic flavors in her kitchen.

Who are these classes for?

Our classes are for everyone—whether you’re brand new to the topic or have been engaging with it for years, we encourage participation from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experience levels. Unless otherwise noted, no prior knowledge or experience is needed. Not sure if a class is for you? Email us at Learning@Lehr.haus!

Can I eat during class?

While we do not serve food in the study, you are welcome to order and enjoy drinks during class and join us for a meal before or after class. We highly recommend making a reservation if you know you'll be dining with us. Visit www.lehr.haus/reservation to check availability and book a table.