I don't really know much about Judaism, but maybe you could ask your boyfriend for some help?  Maybe even his uncle if he's still in town?

hi mg,

rosh hashannah (rh) is a day of  self reflection in preparation of the new year.  food has great meaning, similar to  the important  role of food at pesach.  for rh, round challah, a piece dipped in honey and then say the lessing of the bread.  also, dip slices of apple into homey, to represent a sweet wish for a year to come.  i  suggest a meal of gefilte fish (or any fish, really), rice, carrots  with a sweet glaze add yams or potatoes like a sweet kugel, spinach  as these all have symbolic meanings as well.  you could finish off meal with little honey cakes or cookies.

the most significant element of rh is repentence, and then to embrace and  believe in a new year filled with good will, good works, and anabundance of good fortune, which really is abiout good health, loving relationships and family, in addition to good relations with friends, volu teerism, charity, and by example the notion of being a nation good enough to lead by example the best way to be in relation to G-d and to every being in G-d's world.  don't forget the shofar !

http://judaism.about.com/od/roshhashana/a/shana_food.htm

yom kippur (yk) is very different.  it is a solemn fast-day (25 hrs)  that commemorates Moses' arrival with the Ten Commandments and the second convenant with G-d.  it is also  a personal day of atonement.  it is ten days after rh.  traaditional meal to break the fast is dairy - usually lots of tuna, egg, salmon sandwiches, salads, more bread, crackers cheeses   - hey, a modern twist could be a light wine and cheese tasting celebration... hmmmm.... 

between rh and yk, seek forgiveness for trespasses that you have committed.

http://judaism.about.com/od/roshhashana/a/shana_food.htm

i wrote out a shortened version of what you find here, which includes recipes :)

I've done the "at home" ritual for Rosh Hashanah with my boyfriend before, and I've read a lot about what happens at Yom Kippur (though I have no desire to fast). The trick is, doing this all with a UU slant.

In case this topic ever comes up among someone else out there, I found an excellent little site I've been drooling over for the last little while:

http://www.uuja.org/

Unitarian Universalists for Jewish Awareness. The icon on the page includes the chalice and the menorah in a circle together, so it's a cute little overlap of both.

Thanks for providing the link to uuja, Modern Girl.  It was interesting to read that approximately 10% of UU's come from Jewish backgrounds. 

p3, that actually makes  a lot of sense t me :)

I'm glad you have the opportunity to do something Modern Girl. I'm jealous. The friend I lost a few years ago that I miss so much was Jewish. We had some wonderful discussions and she loved Rosh Hoshanah especially. To her Yom Kippur was serious but Rosh Hoshanah was uplifting. If I were local I'd definitely catch your U.U. service but in small town Tenn. I don't expect much although last year a representative from Jews for JESUS came and explained and walked us through a sader. That was nice.

dear jon,

i am sorry to  hear about the loss of your friend.  however, it is nice to hear about her love of Rosh Hashanah and her respect for Yom Kippur.  it might be nice for you to share apple slices dipped in honey or honey cakes with your friends on rh this year in memory of her and to celebrate her appreciation of the new year -and remember her with love while embracing friendship with others in your life.

Thank you. That's some beautiful ideas. I will certainly be thinking of her.