Please help me do my job: organising a work event to celebrate Rosh Hashana

[Marie2023]

Hi everyone, as the title says, I am organising a work event to celebrate Rosh Hashana. I need to think about food, decorations, music and anything else to make it a special occasion. I like the idea of a beautiful piece of music and a slideshow. Would really appreciate some ideas. Many thanks.

What size is your workplace? Are you in the UK? Maybe you're at a school?

I'm a bit confused because it seems like rather a lot to be organising/responsible for yourself. And strange that work wants you to take time out to do it - or is it all after work?

Obviously I'm not asking to name the place, but a) I'm curious and b) knowing the target audience (kids/adults/teachers/hospital workers/factory workers etc) will help get useful replies.

For a start, is the slide show something playing on a loop or something people have to come and sit down to watch? Do people have time to during their day?

It’s for an organisation of around 50 people.

Apples and honey. Maybe a wishing well for people to put they're hopes and prayers in for the new year ahead. Some music.

Alternatively, start with the idea of Rosh Hashana as the world's birthday, and the tikkum olam responsibility G-d has given us towards stewardship of the environment. Non-Jews will find that highly relatable amidst current worry about carbon emissions, climate change etc.

Join the FB group ‘Jewish Britain’. The people on there will have lots of ideas.

It’s usual to have apple and honey / honey cake for a sweet new year
at the start of a year we think about starting afresh and that is something anyone can relate to

Google Chabad - they have loads of resources around Jewish festivals

Not sure how I feel about a slideshow. Perhaps have a look on YouTube for a good short video instead?

Definitely try and get a few round challah breads if you can instead of the plaited version as they only make them at festival times and they are delicious.

It would be amazing if you can get someone to come and play the shofar also (google)

Maybe also talk about pomegranates as well as apple and honey.

Maybe even touch in Yom Kippur

Thanks all. Really appreciate your replies, I’m learning loads. The guy who I will ask to blow the shofar is vegan, so I will buy a plastic shofar online. I am also going to make a vegan chicken soup for everybody. And maybe some bagels?

@Marie2023 if you need to stick to a vegan theme (is this absolutely vital?) don't make vegan chicken soup.

Plenty of better options out there.

Are you having someone to come and play the shofar from a synagogue or has the vegan guy volunteered? They are seriously hard to blow. I also don't think a plastic shofar will be the same personally. I'm not even sure you'd get a sound out of it x

Are you providing a little nibble or is it lunch? If it's a snack then apple and honey and some challah and kosher wine should be plenty

This is very odd. I work in a Jewish environment, and we've never "celebrated" Rosh Hashanah in the office. I suppose you might give out a bit of honey cake the day before, but blowing a shofar is weird and borderline offensive IMHO.

@samG76 thats why I’m posting. I don’t want to offend anybody. We ‘celebrate’ Christmas, Eid, etc so I feel it’s important to also recognise an event that is important for our Jewish colleagues.

I only read about blowing the shofar in this thread. I think a PP suggested it. I’ll scrap that idea, though.

Why don't you ask your Jewish colleagues what they would like /think appropriate?

Because I want them to see that I am putting a bit of effort in.

I think you need to ask your Jewish colleagues, Maybe get a working team together. It's very easy to get something wrong (particularly on the food front) or miss a vital nuance for things like this - i say this as someone Jewish. I'd be welcoming of a colleague asking for advice and guidance.

I concur as someone who is also Jewish x

Yes, I did ask. But they are extremely busy at work and I didn’t want them to feel burdened by the responsibility. One mentioned honey cake but not much else. I’m trying to use some initiative.

There is a great you tuber I follow called Sony as prep. She has loads of recipes etc and she has just done a few for Rosh Hashanah. As mentioned honey and apple dishes are traditional. Also I’d stick with vegetarian as meat can be tricky for the dietary laws. I usually go to a group of friends for the various holidays and we always do vegetarian as people have differing approaches to if they keep kosher or not. I often do devilled eggs. One of my friends invariably makes a coleslaw with apple and sultanas in it and no mayo.

Agh the message autocorrected. The you tube is called sonya’s prep. She is orthodox and has a lovely channel.

I think the problem is that RH is a religious festival. It’s not a fun event like Chanukah where you could in theory light a menorah and play with dreidls. It is quite a solemn time and however good your intentions there is the danger that it will look as if you are trivialising it.

Your Jewish colleagues will presumably be taking the day(s) off for RH anyway though?

Honestly, it's shows more care/effort if you ask them rather than just guessing. Also, there's loads of Jewish feativals and holy days, and RH possibly isn't the best one to focus on, especially as it falls immediately before Yom Kippur, which is incredibly serious and not at all fun. Maybe ask your colleagues about Purim instead?

This has HR Disaster written all over it.

You are definitely going to offend people if you screw this up. Religion is important and not something to play tourist at.

Thanks for that 🙄