B"H
More Thoughts for Rosh Hashanah
Some of our members won’t be coming to shul and will miss the camaraderie, schmoozing and social interaction. In order to make them feel like they are not missing out, I decided to offer some thoughts which you can discuss at home. Some ideas are religious in nature while others are related to current events.
The uniqueness of Rosh Hashanah - While all the other Jewish holidays focus on the unique relationship that God has with the Jewish people, Rosh Hashanah has a universal message. We commemorate Hayom harat olam - that today marks the birth of humanity. Our focus is on a time when organized religion didn’t exist and human beings had a personal relationship with God. Our sages write that on Rosh Hashanah V’chal bai olam ovrim … and the entire world passes before God one by one. It reminds us that we can’t always rely on others and have to take personal responsibility.
Thank God that this year there are more shuls across the United States that will be open over Rosh Hashanah. However, many will nonetheless choose to pray at home. In Australia and New Zealand people don’t have a choice as all shuls are closed until October. Their governments’ Covid guidelines are quite severe and their risk tolerance is very low. But for some, this too is a blessing; they can communicate with Hashem on a personal level. They may not have the benefit of a community but nor are they encumbered by it.
Counting your blessings - My grandfather arrived in the United States in 1895 at the age of 12. He emigrated with a sibling to escape the difficulties of being a Jew in Europe. Sadly, he never saw his parents again. Years later I heard the story of Yankel Unfanger from Melbourne, Australia. His parents weren’t satisfied with the Jewish education available in Australia in the 1950's and sent him to a yeshiva in New York before his bar mitzvah. The first visit back to Australia was 12 years later with his new bride. I can’t fathom a world in which these stories were the norm. Nor can I imagine leaving home as a child and coping with the unimaginable difficulties that lie ahead. And when I try to equate what my grandfather went through with the difficulties that I currently have, I’m embarrassed by any comparison. By contrasting my life with the life of my grandparents, I realize how truly blessed I am. Our challenges aren’t challenges, they are merely inconveniencies. I can’t imagine the grief my great grandparents experienced in sending their children away, knowing that in all probability they would never see them again. I found it exceedingly difficult when I couldn’t see grandchildren for a year except on FaceTime. Although at the time I was miserable, in hindsight I realize that I am blessed.
Although the exterior of our synagogue building has been upgraded with magnificent Jerusalem stone, the project is still unfinished. The parking is not completed and the external lights have not yet been put in. The blacktop is only on its first layer, and the grass and greenery surrounding the building leave much to be desired. But compare our challenges with synagogues that were in the path of Hurricane Ida. Some were severely damaged and unusable and Torah scrolls were left saturated by water. In contrast, our situation seems great.
On making resolutions - Making a resolution is akin to an addiction. The person who is adamant that following Rosh Hashanah they will resolve to lose twenty five pounds has, in all likelihood, made similar resolutions in the past. Unfortunately, they rarely if ever accomplish the goal. Why? Because as easy as it may be to lose the pounds, it’s often easier than you imagine to regain what you lost - plus interest. I did the math and it should be a no-brainer. You can easily shed 25 pound in one year without dieting, going to the gym, or sweating. It’s relatively easy and in the process you can support Israel, save money, and be healthier. Just eat one scoop less of Ben & Jerry’s and in two weeks you will have lost one pound. Keep it up for a year and the cumulative effect will be 25 less pounds. But alas, the evil inclination convinces us to be righteous and not punish Haagen Dazs because of Ben & Jerry’s sins. And alas, next year we will make a similar resolution.
On global hypocrisy - Do you remember the slogan “Never Again''? We hoped that Jews would never again be targeted because we were Jews. We hoped that if we shouted long enough the systemic and rabid anti-semitism permeating the globe would miraculously cease. Unfortunately, the one step forward is being trampled by the numerous steps back. From the college campus to the highest seats of government, a vicious diatribe against our people appears to be gaining steam among the mainstream masses. Regardless of its duty to protect its citizens, Israel continues to be victimized and delegitimised in its attempt to stop the terrorists. In this misguided reinterpretation of political correctness, what was right is now wrong and what was once unconscionable is not acceptable.
To prove my point I ask: when did terrorist regimes enter the mainstream? How can the world ignore decades of tyranny, coercion, and oppression against their own people, let alone against western democracies? I’m still shocked by the decision the United States took to leave Afghanistan and allow the Taliban and ISIS to return to power. I don’t know the military strategy (and I’m sure there were valid reasons to leave) but the optics leave much to be desired. When did the USA start negotiating with terrorists? How could the USA legitimize illegitimate regimes? I’m angry and fraught with emotion when I think of the thirteen American servicemen killed days before they were set to go home. I grieve for their families and the conflicting message our country is sending. Where are the cadre of global protesters who rise every time Israel tries to defend themself? Why do they now remain silent when innocent Afghani civilians are murdered? The recent blast killed over 200 people, mostly civilians. Why no uproar over collateral damage? Why no uproar that children are being targeted? Why are they not protesting on college campuses against the Taliban’s widespread victimisation and oppression of women and young girls? Why are university students still busy advocating against ‘apartheid’ Israel or the bourgeoisie western democracies and silent when real evil is being perpetrated under their noses? Sadly we are living in a world where what was right is now wrong and what was unconscionable is now acceptable.
True repentance or mockery - Rosh Hashanah is about integrity, honesty and begins the ten days off repentance which culminates with Yom Kippur. Unfortunately much of the news we are hearing about is the antithesis of integrity, honesty and repentance.
Sirhan Sirhan made a mockery of our judicial system when the California parole board approved his request for parole. His release was not predicated on remorse for murdering RFK. In all likelihood he will receive a hero’s welcome in the Palestinian Territories.
I’m frustrated reading accolades about how the Taliban were instrumental in ensuring the safety of Americans trying to flee Afghanistan. In my estimation the Taliban are still unrepentant murderers with blood not only on their hands, but on their entire being. Their raison d'etre is spreading fundamentalist Islam through fear, coercion, and murder. I think it’s unconscionable to glorify their political stunt and overlook the personification of evil they truly represent.
This fictitious illusion of the repented terrorists re-emerging into the mainstream seems to be spreading not only domestically, but globally. This concerns entire terrorist organizations, not just individuals. Countries like Lebanon, China, Iran and Turkey collectively subject their citizens to draconian and oppressive laws but are now the darlings of many in the western world. The western pacifists are more interested in promoting carbon neutrality and a cessation of greenhouse gasses and they fail to realize that the world has much more to fear from their friends than from carbon and greenhouse emissions. Where is the outcry against what is happening to the pro democracy advocates in Hong Kong? The once fiercely independent and pro western enclave is now being beaten into submission. Turkey is flexing its muscle by occupying 37% of Cyprus and the European Union ignores the reality and welcomes them as equals. Hezbollah controls much of Lebanon and Hamas continues to place missiles in schools and civilian areas but nary a sound is made. No one seems to mind the blatant hypocrisy of their policies. Certainly no one is perfect and even good people will do bad things. However, doing bad things doesn’t inherently make one a bad person. Conversely, many evil people will do good things but doing good things doesn’t inherently make one a good person.
I hope you enjoyed the article and will discuss some of these issues with your family over Yom Tov. I know it won’t be easy being away from shul so I thought I would bring a little bit of shul into your house.
Shana Tova,
Rabbi Jack Engel
