Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Shana Tova, For a Good Year


Sunday began Rosh Hashana, one of the holiest times in the Jewish calendar of festivals and observances. The name means "first of the year" or "head of the year," and it's is a time for reflection for all Jews. Rosh Hashanah is celebrated with symbolic foods, prayers, synagogue services, and the blowing of the shofar which is traditionally a ram's horn.

I figure every faith tradition should have some occasion to blow a ram's horn, but Christians have already appropriated a lot from other religions, especially Judaism.

I've noticed that there are some thoughtful pieces out there on including our environmental responsiblities as part of the reflection of these days, which makes sense to me when Creation is in crisis. 

This is the final day of Rosh Hashanah for 2022, if I read the calendar correctly. Here is a tweet from Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg which we can all take to heart, whatever our background. 

Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg
Shana tova, all. May it be a year of blessing, of healing, of righteous action, of inspiration, of laughter, of community, of connection, of compassion, of creativity, of building power, of vision, of truth-telling, of liberation, of justice, of unmitigated joy.



2 comments:

kb said...

I believe the day is preceded by a period of self-examination, a seeking of forgiveness from those wronged and repentance. What a gift to the community and family if this practice is followed. That is, marking a yearly recurring time to seek forgiveness (as it can too easily be "put off" into some distant time in the future...) KB

David Mundy said...

Yes, that opportunity for reflection, honest self-assessment, repentance seem to be important aspects of Rosh Hashanah. They resonate with the purpose of Lent and the original notion of Advent in Christianity. In another day many congregations had New Year's Eve watchnight services for looking back and expressing gratitude, and the Methodists would employ John Wesley's quadrilateral as the new year began. Oh yes, there is also the Ignatian Examen. I wonder if these were inspired by Jewish tradition?