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Home
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Slip of the Tongue
by Rosally Saltsman
We used to serve tongue for Rosh Hashona back in the States,
when it was easier come by, for two reasons. First, it is
part of the head, so that "We keep a-head and not a-tail."
And, since we like to make up our own simonim for
table conversation, we would add, "So that our tongues exult
in song -- leshoneinu rina." We also eat sweet potato
(kugel) to have a sweet year, and when we eat something with
onion, we pray that Hashem "conceal us protectively in the
shade of His wing -- betzel kenofecha." Challenge
your children to find their own simonim and to ask
Hashem, in as many ways as they can imagine, to bless us with
a good New Year!
I finally did something I have been trying to do for years. I
served tongue. Since so many of our commandments, positive
and prohibitive, are involved with speech, as is indicated in
the many al cheits involving it, I thought it would be
the most appropriate food to serve.
I've tried in the past and never quite made it. Perhaps the
cat got my tongue, or someone else preempted me. But this
year when I walked into the butcher shop and asked for
tongue, there it was, sticking right out at me.
Since I've never before tried cooking this delicacy, I
followed the rule of roast. Roast gets smaller as it roasts
and tongue is small to begin with, so figuring that the same
would happen, I bought three. We were six at the meal, which
was about twenty too few, because I discovered that when you
boil it, tongue expands. We ate all we could and I froze what
was left, and we'll be biting my tongue for a few festive
meals to come.
I am sure you are familiar with the story in the
gemora of R' Shimon ben Gamliel sending his servant,
Tavi, to the market on two separate occasions, first to buy
the best delicacy he could find, then the worst food he could
find. Tavi brought back tongue each time because the tongue
can say the best things and the worst things. It can do lots
of good - - and lots of harm.
The lesson I learned from the tongue I bought also has its
parallel in parable. When frozen at the butcher's, it looks
very small, but when put in hot water, it expands to amazing
proportions. The same is true with our own tongues. When this
organ sits quietly under our palates, fenced in by two rows
of teeth, it seems quite small and harmless. But when its
owner finds itself in hot water -- watch out! It can expand
to frightening proportions and do lots of damage.
Another lesson: tongue is best taken sparingly. One mustn't
indulge, lest we be forced to eat our words . . .
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