My Thoughts on Rosh Hashanah 2009

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Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, heralds the beginning of the Ten Days of Awe. These ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, are a time of intense introspection as we contemplate our deeds in the year passed and according to tradition prepare ourselves for God's judgment.

Jewish tradition says that on Yom Kippur, God irrevocably seals our fate for the coming year in the Book of Life. As is recited in one of Rosh Hashanah's important prayers the Unetanah Tokef, "On Rosh Hashanah it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed."

It is in these 10 days of awe that we have the chance to intervene in the fate that God provisionally has in mind for us: "On Rosh Hashanah it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed." On Rosh Hashanah one could easily descend into total panic. "Oh my, look at this list of all the things I have done: the times I hurt someone's feeling, gossiped, lied, cheated, cut corners with my own morality, let others down, didn't do as much as I could have to help someone, didn't give as much as I should have to the poor and needy, didn't care as much as I should have about someone's welfare... And now only ten days to change my fate! How?!! How??!! How??!!!!"

How indeed? It would be very cruel if the same Unetanah Tokef prayer that teases us with the knowledge of this 10-day intervention opportunity did not give us some insight into how one can intervene. So you won't be surprised to hear that the same prayer does reveal the three tools for a successful intervention program. And how powerful these tools must be if they hold the key to changing the mind of an omniscient and omnipresent divine Being: tshuva (repentance), tefilla (prayer) and tzedakah (charity).

The common translations of these three concepts - atonement, prayer and charity - are the subject of much Rabbinic discussion and fall far short in communicating the power that these three concepts embody.

Tshuva actually means 'return' and not regret or contrition in the sense of 'repentance.' When we pursue tshuva we strive to return to the highest level of good that is found within each of us.

Tefilla is not prayer in the sense of asking God for this or that or as one of my Jewish philosophy professors once said the 'God as cosmic bellboy' interpretation of prayer. Tefillah is not what I ask from God but what I ask from myself:

"Tefillah is about self-relfection and introspection. Therapy for my soul. I judge myself. I open my heart and sould. I look within, honestly bravely... I hold my potential up to my actual and see where I need to work on myself."

And finally, tzedakah which comes from the word 'justice' and 'righteousness' does not refer to charity, or the voluntary act of giving. Tzedakah is rather an obligation, within the means we each have at our disposal, to give and be giving to others not because it is a nice thing to do but because it is the only just and righteous thing to do. It is the obligatory pursuit of service to others who need our help which lies at the very core of tzedakah.

As wonderful as each of these three tools can be on their own, none is powerful enough in isolation to overturn the provisional will of God. The prayer tells us "tshuvah, tefillah AND tzedakah" not 'OR.' And when we look at the concepts in their true light we understand that when combined these three create a powerful cosmic cocktail capable of giving us the strength to move Heaven and Earth. True, honest introspection and soul-searching is the only way to return to our highest inner selves. And once we open that door and embark on that path we will discover the inevitable conclusion that within the means we have it is our obligation to aid those who need our help.

And you know what? These lessons have nothing to do with being religious, which I am not. Far from it. But I am only human so it is handy to have a period of time when these thoughts and these challenges once again take center stage.

I wish every one of us a year when we recommit to find the best in ourselves and strive to manifest that in the world.

Comments

[Simonne Walvisch]

Every time intensely you warm my heart and soul again and I'm so lucky to have you in my life. I love you to the moon end back and wish you all the Simche one can get.
Shanah Tovah

[lennybruce]

Hi Simonne,

Thank you so much for your kind words my dearest friend. You know the feeling is mutual! Best wishes for mucho happiness and health and everything that is good and wonderful. Shanah Tovah!