The Eve of the Jewish New Year

The past year was difficult for all of us, in Israel and around the world: illness, unemployment, social distance, constant uncertainty, and more. We got into an unexpected and uncontrollable situation that plagued the whole world and reminded us how small we are, how much human life hangs by a thread and our lives depend on each other. We, the generation of progress, tend to forget these things because of the constant and spectacular development of science that deceives us and gives us an excessive self-confidence. In the days of the pandemic, it was like the words of King David in Psalm 30: " When I felt secure, I said ‘I will never be shaken’", then adding: " when you hid your face I was dismayed." King David has experienced this transition from overconfidence to a sudden panic with a feeling of lack of control. We had the same experience this year. We’re looking forward to the day when we will be able to say, together with David, at the end of the Psalm: "You turned my wailing into dancing, you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy”.

On this eve of Rosh Hashanah 5781, we pray for the sick, the unemployed, the lonely and all those in need. May we learn true wisdom of life, this year; may love and mercy abound in our hearts.