When we design for Apeloig Collection, we always start with meaning. For our newest High Holidays Paper Placemat—created in collaboration with our friend at Papeles Petunia—we wanted to make something that didn’t just look beautiful, but felt meaningful. Something that could spark conversation, inspire reflection, and turn your holiday table into a place of connection.
Why This Piece Means So Much to Us
The Jewish High Holidays—Yamim Noraim, or Days of Awe—are some of the most powerful and emotional days of the year for us. They’re about pausing, taking stock, and stepping into the new year with intention. We wanted this placemat to be a visual reminder of all of that.
So, we started building a collage of symbols that have been part of our tradition for centuries—each one carrying its own blessing and hope.
Starting with Something We Love
We based the design on our Rattan Starlace Challah Cover, which already carries so much meaning (read here). The richness of the linen, the delicate mesh, and the way the Stars of David seem to weave into each other—it felt like the perfect starting point. The Star of David itself is such a strong emblem of Jewish identity, connecting us to those who came before us and to the future we’re building.
A Surrealistic Collage
Next, we wanted to create a surrealistic collage inspired by some of our favorite designs from Papeles Petunia. We asked Melanie—the designer behind the brand—to add illustrations of a few High Holiday symbols and she did her magic. Here’s what you’ll find woven into the design, and the meaning behind each:
- Pomegranate – Abundance, and the 613 mitzvot, reminding us to fill our days with good deeds.
- Apples and Honey Bee – Wishing for a sweet year ahead, filled with life’s simple joys.
- Shofar – A wake-up call to our souls, to reflect and renew.
- Lamb and Fish – A blessing to be “the head and not the tail,” stepping into leadership and fresh beginnings.
- Date Palm Tree – Inspired by Yitamu oyveinu—“May our enemies be consumed”—symbolizing the end of negativity and the start of something new.
- Fig – A nod to abundance, peace, and the wisdom of Torah.
More Than Just a Placemat
We refined, adjusted, and obsessed over the details until it felt just right. We wanted this to be more than something you set on the table—it’s a celebration of tradition, artistry, and the hope we carry into the new year.
From our family to yours, we hope this placemat brings even more meaning to your High Holidays.
We’d love for you to make it part of your table this year.
Shop the High Holidays Paper Placemat and create a holiday setting that’s as meaningful as it is beautiful.
