Committing to make the world a better place

Rosh Hashanah celebrates the anniversary of God’s creation of human beings. According to rabbinic tradition, the first people came into existence in the Garden of Eden 5,780 years ago when God took a bit primordial earth, shaped in the divine image and breathed into it the God’s breath of life.

As modern people who affirm the truth of our origins uncovered by science, we know that the earth is many billions of years old and that human life evolved gradually over eons culminating in the emergence of homo sapiens about 300,000 years ago.

Nonetheless, each year at this season, Jews throughout the world continue to celebrate the ancient anniversary of creation. We do so because we understand that while the Biblical creation story is unscientific, it nonetheless embodies profound truths about what it means to be human and our relationship with God.

We are biological beings, but there is a living spirit within each of us that transcends the material realities of our existence. This spirit has its origins in the divine. It challenges us to continue the process of creation by remaking our lives in God’s image and working in partnership with God to make the word a better place for all humanity.

As we begin a New Year, let us resolve to respond to the divine breath within us and recommit ourselves to leading lives of righteousness and kindness that reflect the intentions of our creator and fulfill the promise of our creation. If we do so, I am confident that we will be blessed, with a sweet, joyous and fulfilling New Year.