On the 1st night of Rosh Hashanah, we wish others l’shanah tovah tikatevu v’techatemu – “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year”. Sounds like we are being judged. That’s because we are. Each Rosh Hashanah we stand before a loving God, parent. Every parent wants his child to live a long, healthy, prosperous life. Each year at this time we ask for that opportunity, but are we interested? Let’s talk about it.
Did you ever wonder why we celebrate our new year, Rosh Hashanah, every year
on Tishrei 1-2? (btw the 7th month of the Hebrew calendar. Yep, New Year in the 7th month. It’s a Jewish thing. Good stuff for another article). It is the anniversary of the 1st human being. No, not the 1st man. The 1st human. A being with a soul, freedom of choice. God could have started the world with a village, a country, or an entire planet filled with people. Why just 1 person? It reminds us of the power and responsibility each of us has… as individuals.
Rosh Hashanah is the awesome “Day of Judgment”—-“who will live and who will die, who by fire and who by the sword…” Whew! You would think we would pray for forgiveness, good health, another year of life. But in Shul we pray for none of these. We ask God to perfect the world, unity, harmony, justice. Actually, this is exactly what Rosh Hashanah is about.
Jewish tradition teaches that before we can make the world a better place, we must 1st improve ourselves. That process is not easy. It involves self-analysis, admitting our weaknesses. Making the world a better place begins with us as individuals becoming better people. Every Rosh Hashanah represents a vote of confidence in us to do so. Hope you didn’t skip over the “freedom of choice” phrase above. Rosh Hashanah is also its birthday. We set up the values, goals, and parameters for the new year. God gives us the type of year we choose for ourselves. Yep. Freedom of choice includes the “R” word……..responsibility. Sorry people. God doesn’t dictate what happens to us. God has a goal for us, but the path we choose to get there is on us.
If you read in between the lines, the essential message is that God wants a relationship with us. But the question is “are we interested?” To do so we must be honest with ourselves, admit our weaknesses, be vulnerable (no one said it would be easy). The reward? Another year, another opportunity to make a difference.
I have been asked, more than once, “What can I do? Where do I start?”
Suggestion: Recently, anti-Semitism is on the rise…..in a new form. High Schools are introducing CRT into their curricula. Objections are met with violence and expulsions. Criticism of Israel is growing… among the Jewish community! It is no longer seen as the center of Jewish life.
What can you do? A good start would be to inspire your children to be proud Jews. Educate, educate, educate. Jews have long risen above the crowd largely due to the emphasis on education. Our children are entitled to and deserve quality education free of discrimination and intimidation. Parent alert!!! Teach your children to appreciate Judaism and to be
proud of our tradition. To be “a light unto nations.” (Isaiah 42:6)
Finally, Rosh Hashanah is here to remind us to dream. “I have a dream…” A man who dreams is a man who cares and a man who cares can make a difference. On this Rosh Hashanah, I pray we all choose to dream…..of a better “us” and a better world.
“God is both judge and parent; when justice and mercy join hands. God forgives and, in doing so, teaches us to forgive.” -Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
