Of special importance in the yearly cycle is the group of holidays that occur during the month of Tishri (September-October). Among these, three days in particular are connected to the baking of bread: Rosh ha-Shanah, Yom Kippur, and Hoshana Rabbah (the last day of Sukkot). On each of these holidays it is customary to bake round hallot, since what is round has no end and is therefore considered a favorable sign of long life.
Moroccan Jews often bake spiral hallot garnished with almonds, while Hasidic communities in Israel favor rounded loaves designed in a variety of shapes, such as birds, one or two hands, or a ladder. These symbolic motifs, which stem from Eastern Europe, express good wishes for a sweet and happy New Year, for the Almighty's forgiveness, and for the speeding of one's prayers to Heaven, as well as a plea to God for the atonement of one's sins and a favorable sealing of His decree. Above all, these hallot represent a yearning for direct communication with the Almighty.

Hand-shaped hallah for Rosh ha-Shanah in the tradition of the Toldot Avraham VeYitzhak Hasidic Court,
Handmade by Chaya Kahan, Jerusalem, 2003
Photo: Ruhi Bahared

Hand-shaped hallah for Rosh ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur
Handmade by Zishe Gerlitz, Lendner Bakery, Jerusalem, 2002