Five Highly Personal Questions for Rosh Hashanah
As we approach Rosh Hashanah, every Jew should ask themselves the following five questions:
- While young Israeli men and women rose with courage, how did you rise like a lion this year?
- As our brothers and sisters in Israel hid from incoming missiles, how did you bring safety and hope to the world?
- During one of America’s most polarizing elections, how did you build bridges and foster connection?
- As AI takes over more of life’s menial tasks, how are you filling your life with deeper purpose?
- This year, how did you accomplish what only you could gift the world?
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The outgoing year was filled with hope and tension, with prayer and anxiety
There were rockets from Hezbollah, ICBMs from Iran, the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, and Portland’s largest building sold for 80% less than it was purchased for.
Concurrently, Israel rose like a lion. Hezbollah, Iran, and the Houthis were defeated. Many hostages were brought home to safety. And here in Portland, our city is showing signs of rebounding.
That was the time we lived in.
But the question we are asked this Rosh Hashanah is not about the times we lived in; it’s about how we lived in our time.
How did we bring comfort to the mourning, hope to the despairing, and convey the message that Hashem is our Creator in the midst of an ever-changing world?
Ask not in which time you live, but rather: What life did you inject into your time?
