We Are All in This Together - A Rosh Hashanah Message

Someone walked into a room and noticed that everyone present was shivering because it was chilly. He put on a coat to warm himself up. Another person walked into the room and feeling the cold immediately turned up the thermostat to heat the room. Now everyone was warm.

When faced with a challenge we can choose to help only ourselves, putting on our own coats, or we can warm everyone around us by turning up the heat.

On September 25th, at sundown, we will begin celebrating Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year. This marks the beginning of the Jewish year 5783. This year is unique because it represents “Hakhel” which in Hebrew means assembly or unify.

In the Jewish calendar every seven years is Hakhel - a time of community gathering. In ancient times when our Temple stood in Jerusalem, all of Israel would come together during the Sukkot festival to hear the Torah/Bible being read aloud by the King of Israel.

The entire nation would assemble at the Temple from all parts of the land. No one stayed home. No one remained on the sidelines or uninvolved. Everyone was needed to actively be a part of the community.

It’s easier to mind our own business, to focus on our personal lives and ignore the common needs and challenges around us. It’s easy to stay home and avoid any communal responsibility.

This year of Hakhel - the year of gathering – reminds us that we have a responsibility to those around us. Taking care of ourselves and being a good person is not good enough, we need to look out for the public good and the needs of those around us.

As the Jewish New Year approaches, let us take a moment to step out of our comfort zones and make an impact in our communities. Think about what we can do for our society, for humanity. If we each do our part, we can change the lives of those around us and by extension we can change the entire world.

As Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur approach, take action and join a High Holiday service. Whether you have attended in the past or not, make the effort to partake this year so that we all unite as one before the Al-mighty. Together, we can reenergize ourselves and work to improve our lives and the world around us.

Join our inspirational services at the Jewish Community Center led by the New York City Choir where no fee or membership is ever required. A seat, Kippah and prayer book awaits you, and we will gladly guide you through each step of the service. Bring your children to our special family service, sit together as a family while the prayers, stories and songs come to life and inspire you and your children. Get your free tickets to our High Holiday services at jccmb.com/highholidays.

May you and yours be blessed with a happy and sweet new year filling all of your requests both materially and spiritually,

Rabbi Yossi Mintz
rabbiyossi@jccmb.com