B"H
The final chapter - How to Prepare for Rosh Hashanah
Our vacation is sadly over but hopefully the memories will remain. Switzerland’s mountains are a constant reminder of the magnificence of Hashem’s creation, but Israel is the soul of the Jewish people. In Switzerland we had to raise our eyes to see God but in Israel we were able to see God with our eyes closed. Seeing Jews in Switzerland was exciting, but in Israel we were enveloped by Judaism. From the buskers in the street singing in Hebrew to the cherubic faces of children playing in the park, Judaism permeated. On Friday night in an embrace of the Shabbat, Jews with tattoos and piercings sang Shabbat songs alongside conservatively garbed women, joining together in a spiritual experience. After a few minutes they all went their separate ways, but it briefly felt as though we watched God recreating the world in His image. There were no divisions or differences; for a fleeting moment in time we seemed to be united.
Spending a Shabbat in a hotel in Israel provided us with a unique experience. During the sumptuous meal with our sons Aryeh, Avner, and his family, we sang zemirot of Shabbat and no one looked at us strangely. On the contrary, a family of French Sefardic Jews and another family of Chassidic Jews joined us in song. It was enjoyable being with our immediate family, but amazing to realize how wide and far our family reaches.
It’s always difficult leaving Israel and saying goodbye to family but hopefully we can bring a bit of Israel home. During our stay I was oblivious of any discord. I didn’t notice any animosity between Trump supporters and Biden supporters. It’s not that everyone in Israel is living in bliss and harmony, it’s just that I made a decision not to notice. We went to the Kotel and spoke with soldiers in uniform but didn’t notice or care if they were wearing a kippah or not.
I think it would be a more meaningful Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur if our community would make a Rosh Hashanah resolution to bring the Israel we just experienced into our diaspora synagogues.
1. Look only for the good in people. Our rabbis taught that if you see the good in others they will only see the good in you. Think about it.
2. You don’t have to be honest when judging anyone other than yourself. (I’m not referring to a judge in a courthouse). In reality, it’s impossible to truly know anyone except yourself, so the only one you can honestly judge is yourself.
3. If someone feels uncomfortable being in shul, then the shul is failing its mission by not making them comfortable.
4. It’s far better to give honey to someone else to ensure they have a sweet year than eating the honey yourself. You won’t get the extra calories and you will definitely have a sweeter year.
5. If you find someone (God forbid) sitting in your seat, go over to them and welcome them to the shul. Obviously it’s their first time in the synagogue.
6. Make an effort to say hello and Shana Tova to everyone you see, especially those you don’t know and have never previously seen. And if you are uncomfortable going over to a stranger then the mitzvah is that much greater.
7. If you enjoy eating horseradish with your gefilte fish then you most certainly may consume horseradish even on Rosh Hashana. (Heard directly from Rabbi Uziel Millefsky z”l)
8. If eating the head of a living being is off putting then don’t eat the head of a living being. I certainly don’t.
9. If you are too religious to be in a shul with people who aren’t as religious as you, then you aren’t really that religious.
10. Religion is defined by an individual’s relationship with Hashem, not anyone else’s interpretation of what that relationship should entail.
Obviously I’m adding a bit of flippancy, but deep down I believe that a shul must embrace a philosophy of acceptance, tolerance, and camaraderie. This week the Torah portion discusses that if a corpse is found close to a town, the elders of the town must publicly declare that they had no involvement in the death. The rabbis explain that anyone entering a town, regardless of who they are, have to be treated with dignity and respect. If by chance the person left town without the provisions he needed to survive, then the responsibility lies with those in the city.
I rarely ever speak in depth with my brother because our philosophical outlook is vastly different. However, last week I visited him in Jerusalem and discussed the law of not charging another Jew interest. Interestingly, we both proposed that the reason for this law is that every Jew, no matter their level of observance, should be considered family.
Perhaps the most important lesson from our trip to Israel is that being a good Jew means to being good to all Jews. This Rosh Hashanah when we ask Hashem to grant us a sweet, healthy and happy New Year, why not preempt him by blessing others with a sweet, healthy and happy New Year. Did you know that Hashem deals with the world measure for measure? If we look out for those who need our assistance, then the Almighty will look after those who need His assistance. Think about it, it may be an offer too hard to refuse.
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Jack Engel
