6 min read
GOOD MORNING! Rosh Hashana begins this Friday evening, September 6th. Perhaps you know someone who doesn't find services inspirational, uplifting, moving? Perhaps they identify with the song titled "I've Got the Stand-up, Sit-down Prayerbook Blues"? Want to help them?
The best suggestion is to bring to services the Rosh Hashana Yom Kippur Survival Kit by Shimon Apisdorf (available in Jewish bookstores - or call toll-free 877-758-3242.) It will enhance the services by explaining the ideas and the prayers of the day and through giving insights into Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
The essence of Rosh Hashana is to recognize that God is King - the Creator, Sustainer and Supervisor. Our goal is to renew our relationship with the Almighty. Each of us must make our own accounting with ourselves as well as with the Almighty. What are we living for? Are our actions leading us towards our goals or away from our goals? What can we do better? What goal would be more worthy to live for? If you have trouble identifying what is important to live for, then ask yourself, "What would I die for?" Then, instead of dying for it, live for it!
Rosh Hashana is called the Day of Judgment. The day when we are judged for the next year - life or death, riches or poverty, sickness or health. The judgment is sealed on Yom Kippur. Hopefully, the thoughts below from the Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur Survival Kit will help you enhance your experience and accomplishments on Rosh Hashana.
Q & A: HOW TO SURVIVE SYNAGOGUE - OR HOW DO I MAKE MY SYNAGOGUE
EXPERIENCE MORE MEANINGFUL?
SOME QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT IN SYNAGOGUE OR DISCUSS AT YOUR ROSH HASHANA MEALS:
Q & A: ROSH HASHANAH IS THE DAY OF JUDGMENT - WHY DOES GOD JUDGE US?
Life is serious business. Every action has its consequence. If God didn't judge us then there would be no justice in the world. From our perspective, if we feel that we are being judged, we are more likely to treat life seriously. We will then hopefully correct our mistakes in dealing with other people, ourselves and with the Almighty.
Judgment implies caring. If you don't care, you don't judge. We look at God's judging us as the ultimate expression of His love and caring about how we live our lives.
Torah Portion
Because the first day of Rosh Hashana occurs on Shabbat, the special Torah reading supersedes the usual weekly portion (which is thus pushed forward to next Shabbat). On the first day of Rosh Hashana we read Genesis 21 regarding the Almighty remembering Sarah and Sarah giving birth to Isaac. (The Almighty remembered Sarah on Rosh Hashana.) The second day of Rosh Hashana we read Genesis 22 regarding "Aikedas Yitzchak," the test of Avraham to prepare his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice; this, too, took place on Rosh Hashana.
CANDLE LIGHTING - September 6:
(or go to http://aish.com/candlelighting)
Jerusalem 6:21
Guatemala 5:52 Hong Kong 6:45 Honolulu 7:20
J'Burg 5:38 London 7:18 Los Angeles 6:54
Melbourne 5:44 Miami 7:17 Moscow 6:54
New York 7:03 Singapore 6:49
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
If you don't have a goal ...
you can't fulfill it.
Happy Birthday! |