- The Chabad custom is to recite Shalom Eleichem, Eishet Chayil etc. in an undertone when Yom Tov coincides with Shabbat.
- It is customary to use round Challot for Rosh Hashanah. (Some continue with this custom until Hoshana Rabbah - the last day of Sukkot.) I have heard that a circle, which has no end, signifies a long life as well as the ongoing cycle of the calendar. It also resembles the crown with which we coronate G-d as our King on Rosh Hashanah.
- Following Hamotzi, one should dip the Challah (three times) in honey. It is customary to dip the Challah in honey during all the Rosh Hashanah meals as well as on Erev Yom Kippur, the night after Yom Kippur, the Yamim Tovim of Sukkot and Hoshana Rabbah. Some have the custom to dip the Challah in honey on all of the Shabbos and Yom Tov meals until Hoshana Rabbah. One should have salt on the table as well.
- It was customary for the Chabad Rebbes to mention all of their holy predecessors during the Rosh Hashanah meals.
Simanim (Signs)
During the meal of the first night of Rosh Hashanah, it is customary to eat various foods that symbolize good things for the coming year. The prevalent custom is to eat these foods after saying the blessing of HaMotzie, but some eat them before HaMotzie.
Apple Dipped in Honey
At the beginning of the meal (after eating the Challah), one should take a piece of apple, dip it into honey, recite the Bracha (Borei Pri Haetz), recite the Ye'hi Ratzon (Siddur pg. 277, Machzor page 39), and eat it. This is the Chabad custom.
Some have a custom to say the bracha, eat a little of the apple, say the Ye'hi Ratzon and then eat some more.
The Hebrew text is יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְפָנֶיךָ, שֶתְחַדֵש עָלֵינוּ שָנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה – “May it be Your will that You renew us with a good sweet year” and eating it symbolizes that we should have a good sweet year.
The Chabad custom is to make the blessing on the apple and eat it first although it is not one of the fruits of Israel (see below).
