RABBI'S MESSAGE (cont'd.)

This is not a clever play on words.  Wisely our tradition ritualizes and celebrates learning, growth, and change.  As part of our annual review, we ought attend to the lessons of life we have learned in the previous year and carry those insights to the next year. One might say that learning is living; when we stop learning we cease to live. Through our celebration of this process we develop as persons. In general, we human beings resist change; we find change difficult. By marking change together communally, with reflection and celebration, we use our tradition and community to mediate this difficulty.

Part of the anxiety people are feeling during these times of economic difficulty is born of our inability to control events that may impact us and our loved ones.  We fear that we will not be able to provide for our families.  We fear the unknown, indeed unknowable, future.  Economic instability need not result in emotional instability.

The fact that we have Jewish values that remain constant helps to anchor us in the turbulent sea of life.  Our interactions with others are guided by the values of חסד--loving kindness--and צדק--righteousness.  These draw us closer together and help us to align our behavior with God’s will. When we do this well, we find inner stability within the swirl of chaos. When we take the words we pray into our hearts and minds, making them active in our lives, we restore our balance. We see the world through new eyes again and again; this repetition refreshes us.

We learn from our experiences in life, our studies, and our prayerful celebrations, we are enriched and we grow and develop as persons.  When we do this together we build a community that is sacred and supportive. May these Days of Awe help us grow by adding meaning and purposeful activity to our lives.

From our home to yours, Renee and I wish you a healthy, prosperous, good, and sweet new year. 

שנה טובה--l’shana tova,

Rabbi Marc A. Gruber