Dear Beth Zion Family,
I hope this letter finds you and your family well.
Rosh Hashana has many different names. One of them is “Yom HaDin,” the Day of Judgement. When I got a speeding ticket (the only one in my life and I was only going 5 miles over the limit), I felt terrible. When I went to court and stood before the judge I shook with anxiety as I confessed my guilt and asked what could I do to make it go away? This is a very different image than the image we have for Rosh Hashana, the day when we are judged by G-d. On Rosh Hashana we do not say we’re sorry, we don’t bang our chest with guilt and we certainly don’t tremble with anxiety. Rather we eat and celebrate with our family and friends. Why such a difference in attitude?
On Rosh Hashana, G-d is judging us on our potential and not on our past actions. What is our potential for the upcoming year? Will we be better people next year or just coast and remain on cruise control? Will we do more Mitzvot? More Chessed (of kindness towards others) and strive to improve in all of our inter-personal relationships – especially with those we care about the most? Will our lives be full of meaning as we search for attainable goals for the short and long term? Rosh Hashana is a day when we project forward and map out our coming year. This is Rosh Hashana and that is why we celebrate because we are optimistic about having a better year next year than the previous one.
Last year we began a new custom at Beth Zion. Prior to the sounding of the Shofar we asked that all of the children join us on the Bima in the center of our Shul to experience the Shofar “up close and personal.” It was an amazing sight to see over 100 children from infants to young at heart celebrating the Mitzva of Shofar. I want to encourage everyone to join us again for this part (you can stay for more as well) of the service. Mothers and fathers can bring their infants up and as a Beth Zion family we can listen to the melody of the Shofar as it calls out to us with its unique and special message.
On behalf of Raizie and myself I want to wish each of you a Shana Tova a very special and wonderful Rosh Hashana. May G-d listen to our prayers and grant us a wonderful New Year.
Rabbi Boruch Perton
