From the Pulpit: Messages for the New Year
The following are the responses to New Jersey Jewish News' invitation to leaders of area congregations to share their High Holy Days messages.
BEST WISHES for a Happy New Year — let us examine the traditional greeting "Shana tova."
To some, happiness is based primarily on the health of loved ones. To others, it is synonymous with prosperity and worldly success. But can one call a year one of complete success and happiness if one merely succeeds in obtaining food, shelter, and clothing?
The story is told of a young man who exclaimed, "If I were fortunate to call this large parcel of land mine, then I will be happy."
"And then?" asked his teacher.
"Well, then I would tear down the old structures and build a beautiful new mansion on the property to enjoy life to its fullest." answered the young man.
"And then?" inquired the teacher.
"Then I would grow old and not care much for these things," came the reply.
"And then," insisted the teacher.
"Why then, I will live.
"And then?" said the teacher.
The young man, exasperated, replied: "Enough of your ‘and then.'"
A few years later, the student met his teacher again. He greeted his mentor and told him he owed the older man his happiness. "How is that?" asked the teacher.
"Those two little words ‘and then.' Your question directed my life's efforts not merely to achieving physical possessions but toward spiritual possessions as well."
Happiness can be found in securing the greatest treasures — the ideals and principles that have preserved us as a people. Happiness consists of planting within our hearts and those of our children the priceless jewel — the Torah — entrusted to us on Har Sinai.
This is the meaning of "Happy New Year." We wholeheartedly hope that God grant us a year and a life in which all our hearts' desires be fulfilled fully for good and that we carry those blessings forward from strength to strength.
RECENTLY, I MET a friend whose child had been in school with one of mine. We compared notes on what our children were doing.
"Well," he sighed, "my son is still finding himself…," the euphemism Jewish parents use when they really mean, "He has yet to amount to anything."
Maybe some of us are still finding ourselves, too. We all want to be passionate about life and find a niche in society where we feel a sense of purpose. There was a time in recent history when "finding oneself" was a luxury we couldn't afford. Now, we suddenly have the time and money to ask, "Who am I?"
There is a hint of narcissism in this question. What if "finding ourselves" leads us to sever our relationships or connection to our people and the responsibilities of our tradition? Is self-discovery all life is about?
George Bernard Shaw said that life is not about finding yourself but creating yourself — more like the approach of our Jewish tradition. At this season, Judaism reminds us that we "find ourselves" standing in judgment before God. God calls on us to do heshbon hanefesh, an inventory of our souls. If all we ask in life is "Who am I?" we are likely to find we are still carrying the same baggage on our journey of self-discovery as we did last year.
But if we ask, "What can I become? What might God want of me?" we will travel on a path of self-creation and improvement; we will find that our relationships to family, friends, and to our people Israel and our tradition provide us more meaning and passion than we ever imagined.
WHAT MAKES 5768 special is that it is a shmita year. In the Land of Israel, shmita is observed as a sabbatical year during which the land rests from planting, farming, and harvesting. This mitzva has been observed since the time of the Temple in Jerusalem and continues to be kept today.
There are two aspects to shmita: the physical and the spiritual. Physically, just as people cannot work nonstop, so too the land cannot be tilled without an occasional year of lying fallow. After resting on Shabbat, Jews are energized and ready for another week of work. Similarly, the land will produce more abundant crops after a year of rest.
Spiritually, a person should be aware that his successes in business and life are not only a result of hard work but are primarily a blessing from the One above. By observing Shabbat, increase the likelihood of enjoying success in all we do the rest of the week. Similarly, by allowing the Land of Israel to lie uncultivated for a full year, we recognize that God is responsible for its abundance and we put our faith in Him to provide better crops in the future.
Going into the shmita year, we are obliged to proclaim God's kingship over the universe and show our submission to God, as his dedicated servants. Rosh Hashana gives us that opportunity. By observing shmita, may we all be rewarded with the building of the third Bais Hamikdash — the Holy Temple in Jerusalem — and the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days.
Wishing all a happy, healthy, and sweet New Year.
FROM THE TIME one is born until the time one leaves this earth, one's life cannot be counted merely in years but also in the accomplishments of life during those years. Basically one's life is less than a minute in time; however, the footprint one leaves in that brief time can have an infinite impact on the future.
These High Holy Days every year are God's guidance to us to evaluate our lives each year. It does not matter what and how much we own — cars, houses, or cash. What matters is how we live our lives. We must consider what is true and real regarding our individual selves and take into consideration how we act and what we do with our lives rather than looking toward the actions of our fellow beings.
As we stand before God these holidays, there are no excuses, no rationales for our behavior. God looks on the inside of us and knows the truth, and on that truth we are judged. But as we know and believe, God is merciful and forgiving. One can change his or her actions and values in life — that is why we have these days of reflection and repentance.
So, my friends, think about this long and hard. Are there things you would like to change about yourself? Always remember, none of us knows how much time we have left. What kind of footprint will each of us leave on this earth?
May this year be one of peace and health for each and every one. L'shana tova tikateivu.
MOST PULPIT RABBIS feel pretty good about the High Holy Days. Sure, it's a lot of work, and there is incredible pressure to deliver the best sermons, the liveliest family services. But for most of us who are happy in our congregations, the chance to welcome the New Year with our extended congregational family is seen as a great gift and blessing.
But we do look around and notice that people whom we shared our lives with are no longer with us, and not because of death or illness. One of the most confounding phenomena in Jewish life is the "graduation" out of synagogue affiliation. Most often, it is because of a family's relocation or their having found another congregation more suitable to a their needs.
The saddest letters, though, are from members who tell me they are simply finished with synagogue affiliation.
Perhaps we stood with you as we named your newborn, provided her with a good foundation of Jewish knowledge, stood side by side at her bat mitzva, and kvelled at her growth and promise. Maybe I held your hand at your mother's funeral. Now you tell us you no longer need us.
You may be gone, but we think about you just the same — about why, with all our points of connection, it never "took," why we failed to impress upon you the necessity of supporting synagogues and other places of Torah learning.
I think about what I could have done that might have led you to believe that your life would be infinitely less meaningful without us.
You will not be here — but I will be thinking about you.
THE HIGH HOLY Day season is upon us, and the work of perfecting ourselves and the world is at the forefront of our minds. Each new year brings the opportunity to turn the words and prayers of the season into actions. With conviction, dedication, and sincerity we pray that our fate be sealed in the Book of Life, but for what purpose? Our tradition beckons us to define and prioritize what really matters. The words and prayers of the Mahzor eloquently describe our longings. Yet, what is often missing is a description of the attitude with which we are to approach these days and beyond.
I share with you the simplicity and brilliance of the "Optimist's Club Creed" to serve as a guide and inspiration:
Promise yourself:
To be strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something of value in them.
To look to the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, tool strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
May 5768 be filled with multiple blessings!
OUR HIGH HOLY Days remind us through our prayers to reinforce our moral sense of values in terms of honesty, integrity, fairness, and forthrightness — qualities that our candidates for political office have yet to show. I am beginning to believe that if you have any sense of decency you cannot be a politician.
Before the High Holy Days are over, we will have recited 540 times in confession a list of transgressions and temptations of which we may have been guilty during the past year. In the entire list of sins there is no mention of missing a service or of not observing a ritual properly. On the contrary, what we ask forgiveness are for are real down-to-earth offenses for which we assume responsibility. We beat our breasts for being disrespectful, inconsiderate, abusive, and selfish, for scamming others, lewd conduct, speaking offensively, and engaging in violent acts.
"Forgive us, O God; we are at fault and promise not to repeat our transgressions if granted another year." This is our reality show and we are not even on television. Judaism demands that respect and responsibility be demonstrated in our personal lives and in our communal life. We must not find excuses or blame others. We have to own up to it.
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