Happy New Year!
No, not that kind. No streamers, noisemakers, fireworks, champagne or Mariah Carey cleavage on Rosh Hashana.
The Jewish New Year is a little different.
Now is the time of year when Jews take a look back at the 12 months. Have we lived up to our potential? Have we treated everyone as kindly as we could have? Have we listened as closely as we should have? Have we taken opportunities to learn and grow? Have we made every effort to become the kind of person G-d meant for us to become?
No?
Then now is the time of year to consider the next 12 months. To think about how we can better reach our potential. How we can be kinder, and more considerate. How we can be more attentive to those around us. How we can make opportunities for ourselves for learning and growth. How we can move ever closer to G-d and be the person that G-d envisions us to be.
L'shana Tova - Ketivah vi-chatima Tova. May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for good, and may all of us merit to see our dreams of parenthood come true.
The river is wide, but it can be swum
Swimmed? Swam?
Anyway.
My friend made it all the way across - 3 miles! She raised a nice bit of change for the cause, her kids had a blast volunteering and she is still riding on
Cloud 9. And so far, no ill effects from spending so much time in the Hudson River. Apparently, it can be drunk. (
Drinked? Drank?)
Sorry for the late update; I'm slowly pulling my
head up and I've been (gratefully) distracted with a project. Thank you all for your words of support and encouragement for my friend; I'm sure all those good vibes helped her make it to the finish. I'm very very very proud of her.
Next up: why my mother-in-law makes that vein in my head stick out about 3 inches. Or why I shouldn't write about that since it's Rosh Hashana and I'm supposed to be cleaning my slate.
Swimming for MS
I'm taking a chance on outing myself here, but a very, very, very dear friend of mine is swimming across the Hudson River for the
Swim Across the Hudson for Multiple Sclerosis tomorrow. Most swimmers are swimming for MS; she is one of the few swimmers (possibly the only one)
with MS. Please send prayers and good wishes towards Croton Point Park and Haverstraw for all the swimmers, but especially for my friend.
b'Hatzlacha, babe.
Live long and prosper. Or something like that.
It is said that one who lives righteously, will be blessed with a long life. But what about all the
tzaddikim (righteous people) who died young? Well, say our sages, “long life” does not refer to the length of time you will be alive, but how long your
name will live. If you live a righteous life and your children learn by your example, your name will be kept alive in their doing.
The story is told of
Korach, whom G-d caused to be swallowed up by the earth for his rebellion. Yet, to this day, we recite a
psalm written by the sons of Korach every Monday. Korach wasn’t righteous, but his sons recognized the error of their father’s way and made amends by writing a psalm and choosing to live righteously themselves. They have therefore redeemed their father’s name and caused him to live a long life, by keeping his name on our lips for centuries.
That’s all fine and dandy. Problem is, you can be as righteous as the day is long, but if you don’t have kids, and you ain’t no
Rabbi Akiva, your name will die right along with your body.*
* Unless you have lots of money and can have someone dedicate a wing in your name at the Jewish Community Centre. Then, your name will live on. No one will remember you, but your name will exist forever. Or at least as long as the building stands.
And yes, I am that snarky today.
