With the new year comes change — in us

The Jewish High Holy Day season begins with Rosh Hashanah on Sept. 9 and continues through Yom Kippur on Sept. 18.  We call this period Aseret Y'mey Teshuvah, the Ten Days of Repentance.

During this period, we take stock of our successes and failures, our strengths and weaknesses and our achievements and shortcomings. We apologize to those we have hurt in some way, make amends if we are able and resolve to do better in the coming year.  This is a period of stock taking and commitment to change.

There is a well known expression in the human potential movement — things don't change, people do. But changing ourselves is the most difficult thing human beings can undertake. We are naturally resistant to change, particularly in ourselves. We would rather remain in our comfort zone, even if that is not working all that well for us. And yet we know that if we continue doing things as we have in the past, the results will not change.

We need to change our thoughts, our attitudes or our activities if we want to change the direction of our lives. This is what we mean by teshuvah, repentance. It is a turning away from the wrong path in our lives and turning around toward the right path that will bring greater fulfillment and contentment. It is not easy and not really for the timid or faint of heart.

That is why we attend lengthy services during this period. We need God's help and support to change ourselves and prayer is our language for seeking and receiving that help and support. And we know that changing ourselves is not a one-time event, it is a lifelong process. As we collect more experience and, hopefully, learn more about ourselves, we are motivated to become better people.

My hope and prayer for all Americans, including the Jewish community, is that we find the spiritual resources in our respective faiths to become as best a person as we are capable. May God support us on our journey and grant us success and blessing along the way.

Rabbi Art Vernon
Jewish Community Center of West Hempstead