Reflection and reconciliation
I spoke to a church group on Sunday - yes pastors leave town for the holiday weekend and get the rabbi to guest speak.
They wanted to know about the High Holy Days. What is amazing about many people hearing about Judaism for the first time is that they often are stunned by how much sense it makes. I am always stunned at how difficult it is for Jews to see the intrinsic value in our own heritage. I guess we suffer from a version of the grass is always greener, and any number of other things.
So, as we prepare for a new year, 5765, and try to clean up any messes from the past year, I propose a process for us all. Think about something Jewish, and try to look at it for the first time as something that might be useful, as opposed to something that might be a burden.
For example, is it such a bad idea to go around to people in your life before the new year and apologize for things that you might have done to them and don't know about? Seems like a great way to start the year.
They wanted to know about the High Holy Days. What is amazing about many people hearing about Judaism for the first time is that they often are stunned by how much sense it makes. I am always stunned at how difficult it is for Jews to see the intrinsic value in our own heritage. I guess we suffer from a version of the grass is always greener, and any number of other things.
So, as we prepare for a new year, 5765, and try to clean up any messes from the past year, I propose a process for us all. Think about something Jewish, and try to look at it for the first time as something that might be useful, as opposed to something that might be a burden.
For example, is it such a bad idea to go around to people in your life before the new year and apologize for things that you might have done to them and don't know about? Seems like a great way to start the year.
posted by Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich at 8:09 PM
2 Comments:
OK, but I'd really have to prioritize or have very brief requests for forgiveness. Otherwise, it's not clear I would get through it all before *next* Rosh Hashana.
We should merely focus on what can be accomplished in this time Allan. When you have a moment with a friend or family-member in the next few weeks, make sure to ask for a blanket forgiveness for those things you may have overlooked, while offering to make amends for those things that you do remember.
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