With the conclusion of both the Democrat and Republican conventions, the 2008 Presidential election campaign between Barack Obama and John McCain, with the sprint to the finish line in November, has begun in earnest.
With the onset of the Jewish month of Elul, and with Rosh Hashana a few weeks away, the High Holiday season has begun in earnest as well.
What does one have to do with the other? There is actually a strong connection between these two disparate events.
Obama has established the words of "Change" and "Hope" as his main campaign theme. McCain's campaign slogan is "Reform. Prosperity. Peace."
McCain has declared in his speeches, "We cannot forever hide the truth about ourselves, from ourselves… We must change what must be changed and make the future better than the past. We must rethink, reform, and re-invent."
Obama has stated that, "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek…This is our moment. This is our time."
Sounds like a Rosh Hashana sermon to me.
This is the time of year when we are looking to change, to reform, to rethink, and to reinvent ourselves. This is the time of year when we are trying to strengthen and improve our relationship with God. Now is the time we must tell ourselves that "Yes we can" become better people.
But how do we accomplish it? In past years we made new resolutions for the New Year but they didn't go so well. How can we ensure that this year's commitments won't become just words?
We are inspired during the High Holidays and we want to change but usually a few days after Yom Kippur our inspiration dwindles. This is the human condition. We are resilient to a fault. Experiences that moved me today eventually wear off. How long will that motivating speech on controlling anger ring in your ears?
Our resolutions don't usually last more than a couple of days. How can we make the motivation last? How do we maintain the momentum?
GROWING IN STAGES
Here's a key. When we are motivated to change, we need to think of some small area in which we can grow. If we take on something too overwhelming and drastic, then it is all the more likely to fail.
Channel your spiritual yearning toward small, incremental steps that you know you can accomplish without Herculean effort.
Channel your spiritual yearning toward small, incremental steps that you know you can accomplish without Herculean effort. Once that step becomes your second nature, take on the next step. Don't stop – keep growing, one small step at a time. Consistent, steady growth needs to be done gradually. Taking on too much, too fast usually doesn't last.
For example, take Torah study. If you're just starting out, commit to learning a 5 minutes a day, or one half hour a week. If you're already doing that, commit to adding a few extra minutes each day. You can decide to perform an extra act of kindness daily, or make sure to smile at one person every day.
There are thousands of small things we can change. Of course, the long-term goal is to increase amounts and levels of change but we must start slowly if we are to change at all.
If we make just a small, manageable change, then over a lifetime, these changes will produce the transformation we are all looking for.
(10) Joseph Rissin, September 9, 2008 10:14 PM
Change is a good attittude with true feeling behind it.
Trying to see the best side of a situation. Using tension as an energy to go forward. Putting the best intentions forward and not allowing it to degrade any further. With this you can change your attitude and any situation for the better. I blow Shofar for the holiday, and hope he hears me with every note.
(9) Feigele, September 8, 2008 6:36 PM
Once or Twice a Year!
So you are saying that most people decide, on about one or two occasions maybe three, to change their life to become a better person! Is this the only time when they recognize that they could do better as human being! How convenient! The rest of the year, they don’t have to worry about being good or bad. New Year’s resolutions! What a bizarre idea, like if they could change all at once. Someone asked me once “how do you eat an elephant?” the answer was: “piece by piece.” It does take years to become who you are and I’m sure more years to mold yourself in different ways. You learn along the way. The Jewish Holidays are meant to commemorate our ancestors’ lives and to ask G-d for forgiveness if we have sinned (which should be all year round). I do not believe this is the right time to make promises that we are not sure we can keep. It’s not about us. You have the rest of the year to think about changing yourself, and should not wait for some holidays to do so. G-d is watching you all year round, not just on the Holidays. The candidates also propose lots of changes, as did those before them, some good ones some bad ones. Should we only listen to the words? Of course, every government in any country needs to change for the better, as do people. They should not wait, the time for changes is now!
(8) Jacqueline Mamoni, September 8, 2008 1:06 PM
Freedom
I want to seek the freedom that will allow me to start again, creativity,change for the better.Yes grow slow and build strong roots..
(7) David Silver, September 7, 2008 10:33 PM
To change or not to change
CHANGE FOR CHANGE SAKE BREEDS CORRUPTION. CHANGE FOR DEVELOPMENT IS ANOTHER STORY. SO CHANGE CAN BE EITHER ONE.
(6) Monika, September 7, 2008 6:51 PM
high holidays
Your ideas are inspiring and I agree we have to go step by step if we want to succeed.
(5) Celia Leal, September 7, 2008 3:40 PM
Rosh Hashanah
I believe that we need to re-invent ourselves each Rosh Hashanah. Each year I make a list of goals and circumstances outside my will prevent me from achieving some of them. Nevertheless, the comfort and love I feel during the celebrations of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are a sign that God is listening to my heart: He knows my intentions and the effort I place on doing the mitzvot. I trust God, and I believe he certainly will take into account all small steps I have tried to take all those years. This year I will focus on Peace and unity, comfort and relief for those in need. So help me God. Shalom.
(4) misterb, September 7, 2008 12:47 PM
Just Words....
If our words in prayer are sincere , we make a true commitment to act on them. There is a big difference between this and the dubious rhetoric spewed by political candidates who want to earn our vote. Ones own true commitment to act on the important issues of our day is what makes a difference. If we continue to pray each year without making a sincere effort for change , we will make no progress. On the High Holy days we have an opportunity to refresh our commitment to God ,ourselves and our fellow man. We must use this energy to go out into the world with purpose. Our success will depend on how well we can work with those whose point of view may be different from our own....especially those who hate us. We must find a better way to reduce the threat of violence and create avenues for negotiation and reconcilliation to make this world a viable place for future generations. Politicians can only do so much, ultimately it's the actions of each individual that will decide our future.
(3) Monika, September 7, 2008 11:23 AM
Getting better
You are right, we have to get better every day and this is the right time (it's always the right time) for it in small steps, everything else would be too much. Let's hope after Yom Kippur the world will be a little bit better. Thanks for your encouragement.
(2) Gretchen Serota, M.D., September 7, 2008 10:40 AM
Actions surpass words
I believe change comes by small actions (only 5 minutes a day as Rabbi Leff suggests as a starting point), not rhetoric. Perhps we should look at the candidates track records, not just their ability to inspire a crowd.
(1) Donna Nitti, September 7, 2008 8:34 AM
The Target, The Mark Our Goal
"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek...This is our moment. This is our time." Barack Obama is right on the mark. I believe we should wake up every morning and look at our target(s) that G-d has to simply and clearly defined, ready our arrow (Torah study), and release. The arrow will reach it's goal because of preparation, knowledge and intent. Just as we can reach G-d's goals that he has set the mark for us. Ready aim....fire. Ready air....release (Choose your weapon...just strive for the mark).