Rosh Hashana in Wartime

As I write this, we are at war.  I say “we” because it represents the entirety of the connection Jewish people all over the world have. The only way I can explain it is:אנחנו אחד, Anachanu Achad. We are one. We pray, sing, laugh and cry together throughout the year. But on Rosh Hashanah, it becomes about you and HaShem. Your relationship. My relationship and I have so many questions.

Can we find joy in the New Year when last year was filled with so much sorrow? Are we allowed to show joy? Can we take steps forward when so many can not step at all? Rosh Hashanah represents a fresh start.  A Lot of questions, but I don’t think I am alone in asking them. Maybe I am asking because this is the time of year when we do the most soul searching. Could I have done more? Should I have done things differently? Is my relationship with God okay or on shaky grounds?

This has been an extremely tough year. It seems as if we are stuck under a dark cloud. I am sure you have noticed once or twice before when flying somewhere, the sun always shines above the clouds. I know it is hard to see since October 7th. It is as if time stopped. We keep living the same day over again. We can not have moments of happiness because “never again” happened in front of us. The loss has been too great. Many of us stopped living. We have forgotten the core of who we are. Chai, life. 

How do we live again? The birth of a baby, a birthday, a wedding, an anniversary, a graduation, even doing a simple mitzvah are all rays that break the darkness. How dark would it be if we did not give those beautiful moments our attention? The world is dark enough. A fresh start does not mean to pretend the broken hearts did not happen. It means bring light to help heal them. The steps we need to take we do for our loved ones who can’t. We live. We love. We take these steps together.

Within war and within tragedy are moments that must be celebrated. Life doesn’t stop. We will eat apples dipped in honey and we will wish each other a sweet new year.  Find joy. Show your joy. Share your joy. Be humble. Be grateful. Be the hope. Question HaShem. I will continue too and as Rosh Hashanah approaches, I think HaShem and I will be just fine. 

With love and light, Shana Tova!