Gifts of renewal and rebirth

Concerning Rosh Hashana, The Torah states: “And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Holy Assembly. You shall do no manner of creative work. It is a day of blowing the Shofar to you. And you shall make for yourself a burnt offering for a sweet fragrance to HaShem.”

We are taught in the Midrash: “Rabbi Tachlifa Kisra said: In connection with all other festival offerings, the Torah writes, And you shall offer, while in connection with Rosh Hashana, it is written; And you shall make for yourself. How is this to be explained? HaShem declares to the Jewish people, “My children, I will consider it as though you have this day, been made before Me, as though I have created Bria Chadasha, a new being.” 

What does Rabbi Tachlifa teach us? He teaches us that this solemn and holy day has the ability to reshape us, to change our perspectives and outlook on life, to reorder our priorities, to render us a Bria Chadasha, a new creation; a changed and different human being. Often we look back on our past, our failings, and our errors and we declare: “It is futile — I cannot change.” Yet, one day, one incident, one moment can change us: HaShem declares to us on this, “You can change! I will make you a Bria Chadasha, a new entity, a changed human being.” 

Rabbi Tachlifa teaches us that HaShem invested this day, Rosh Hashana, this awesome Day of Judgement, with the sanctity and capacity to purify our hearts and elevate our souls, reorder and remake the course of our lives and set us on a path which will lead to a more productive, creative, useful, and exemplary life before HaShem. Rosh Hashanah brings gifts of renewal and rebirth. We can begin again. We can make our lives more spiritual. We can strengthen our relationship with HaShem. There is more to life than just accumulating material things, and there is more to life than a good time or temporary pleasure. Rosh Hashanah makes it possible to add real meaning to our lives, if only we seize the moment. Let us search our souls and examine our hearts, and let us make a determination — a determination to change and improve. Let us resolve to remake and reorder our lives.

My children and grandchildren join me in wishing all of you a Kativa V’Chatima Tova. May you and all your loved ones be inscribed and sealed for a healthy, happy and prosperous new year!

Shalom l’hitraot.