A traditional dining table is set. On the table are various Jewish ceremonial objects.
MAN: In the Jewish religion, eating is not satiating one's appetites alone. The table represents the altar in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and the act of eating is elevated to a spiritual experience.
A young Jewish boy and girl set the table. The boy carries a glass decanter filled with grape juice.
WOMAN: There you are, take… Can you manage that? You sure? You won't drop it? Good boy.
A woman places a bread basket covered with a cloth onto the table.
The boy places the decanter on the table.
A close-up of a candle being used to light another on a Menorah.
A woman closes her eyes and waves her arms over the candles.
(Woman speaks in Hebrew)
(Woman speaks in Hebrew)
The sun sets behind a city skyline.
MAN: On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, one sets off with one's family to the synagogue for the afternoon prayers which is followed by the evening prayers.
Shot of a Jewish man with a large beard speaking to off-screen interviewer.
MAN: Walking home from the synagogue with one's family after that solemn soul-searching aspect of the service, there's a tremendous joy and warmth, there's a tremendous bond and unity. And in fact, there's an optimism. There's a feeling of hope and a prayer that everything will turn out in the best possible way for all, so there's a wonderful joyous feeling experienced walking out of that synagogue service and then coming home to the festive meal with the family.
Men chatter in Hebrew and walk down a front path as they arrive at a house.
(All greet one another in Hebrew)
The attendees of the feast stand behind chairs lined along a long table. A man at the head of the table pours grape juice into small kiddush cups.
MAN: Together with one's family, the table and that meal becomes a very important spiritual activity. Everything that's part of that meal takes on a spiritual significance.
(Man recites kiddush)
ALL: Amen.
(Man recites kiddush)
The man pours grape juice into kiddush cups and distributes them.
MAN: Everybody's invited into the kitchen to wash their hands for the challah.
Slow motion shot of water being poured over the man's hands from a silver jug.
(Man recites in Hebrew)
A woman washes her hands from the silver jug.
Shot of a sliced challah loaf in a studio.
BOY: We eat round challah at Rosh Hashanah because it is like God wearing his crown and he is the king of the world.
Shot of the man at the head of the table lifting a basket of challah.
(Man sings in Hebrew)
The challah is cut into thick slices. There are raisins baked into the dough.
GIRL: The raisin's in the round challah because they are sweet and we want a sweet new year.
BOY: We say the blessing for the challah then we dip the challah in honey for a sweet new year.
Shot of people lined up at the table each taking a piece of challah.
Shot of glistening honey drizzling from a piece of apple.
BOY: We say a blessing for the apple and then dip it in the honey then we say a special blessing for the sweet new year.
(Man sings in Hebrew)
(Man speaks in Hebrew)
Others at the table take pieces of apple from a plate that is passed around.
Shot of a fish head in a studio.
GIRL: We have a head of the fish on the table because it is the head of the year, and we always want to be at the head of things. Always be a leader, not a follower.
(Man sings in Hebrew)
A plate of fish and carrots sits in front of the man, who uses his fork to pierce a section of flesh and eats it.
A boy cuts into a piece of chicken on his plate.
MAN: We made it specially for you, chicken. We made it specially, honey chicken for Rosh Hashanah.
WOMAN: Would someone like some more gefilte fish? There's…
CHILD: Mummy!
WOMAN: Would you pass the… You want some more fish? There's fish right in front of you.
MAN: Big crowd. 3,000 people.
A bottle of white grape juice sits on the table.
BOY: That's mine, I want to keep one on my plate.
BOY: Yossi, did you know that? Yossi, did you know that? We learnt in Transition.
MAN: Everybody, join in, come on.
The man at the head of the table begins to clap and sing, and encourages others to join in.
(Man sings in Hebrew)
A young girl plays with some potato on the end of a fork.
WOMAN: Don't use your fingers please, I'll give you chicken.
GIRL: No, I like the…
WOMAN: You like the potato?
A woman places a slice of cake with ice-cream in front of another woman at the table.
Hands help themselves to pieces of another cake resting in the centre of the table.
A spoon digs into a scoop of ice-cream on a plate.
ALL: L'chaim!
BOY: L'chaim, l'chaim to life.
(All sing in Hebrew)
A shot of their house at night.