Salt - An Old Tradition Becomes ReNEWed

Salt -

It is customary that salt is one of the first items we bring into a new home along with bread and wine.  As salt is one of the essential ingredients in a good meal along with bread and wine for celebration!

Many people dip their Challah in salt on Shabbat. But on Rosh Hashana sugar is substituted for the salt.

The explanation I have always heard is that the challah, as a type of bread, represents the necessities of life, and the salt, a spice, represents the luxuries.  

In this same way, it is also traditional that one of the first things to bring into a new home is some bread and salt.  My parents helped me move into my first home, and I remember that as soon as my mom got through the door, she whipped out a Ziploc with an English muffin and a tiny bag of salt and put it in my cupboard.  When my husband moved in three years later and we were cleaning out the closets, he nearly threw it out and was somewhat puzzled when I pounced on him whilst he was trying to throw out what was a CLEARLY stale piece of bread...  (from Lisa Pollak)

A fun craft activity is to cover a salt shaker with tissue paper scraps  in a fun design and then paint over it with 'modge podge'. They are always beautiful and make a fun thing to add to your Shabbat table!

Salt crystal lamps are also a nice  housewarming gift with this tradition in mind.