Deadly carp virus: Israeli researchers find fish relatives that resist infection

Jews eat fish and fish heads on Rosh Hashanah to symbolize leadership, abundance, and the hope of being “the head and not the tail” in the coming year. The word Rosh means “head” in Hebrew, and so eating a fish head or serving a whole fish is a physical metaphor paired with this traditional blessing, which expresses a desire to be proactive leaders and changemakers rather than followers. Fish also reproduce in large numbers, symbolizing a wish to be fruitful, multiply, and merit an abundance of good deeds, blessings, and prosperity in the Jewish New Year. These denizens of the deep keep their eyes open at all times; their vigilance represents the idea that God is constantly watching over the world with open, protective care. For many Israeli families, no Rosh Hashanah table is complete without carp.