JBFCS: Rita J. Kaplan Jewish Connections Programs

Rita J. Kaplan Jewish Connections Programs of the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services

October 2005

By Rabbi Dennis Math

The Gift of the High Holy Days

On the High Holy Days, we celebrate the Jewish New Year. This year is 5766. The holiday begins on the evening of October 3rd. The High Holy Days are spread over a period of ten days. It is a time to ponder who we are in light of who we could become, and to pray for the determination and the strength to bridge that gap. It is the time to measure how far we have grown in terms of fulfilling our God given potential. These days are called "The Days of Awe", for to look at ourselves as we truly are in light of who we could become, is truly an awesome task.

At this season, we speak of sin. The Hebrew word for sin is "chet". It is fascinating to note that the word "chet" was originally an archer’s term which meant "to miss the mark". Couched in these terms, the notion of sin becomes very acceptable, for we all miss the mark. We all could do better. Sin becomes very serious when we realize that we have "missed he mark", and do nothing to correct our aim. Every year, as we grow older, we should endeavor to be more on target. We are not expected to perfect ourselves; yet, we are expected to improve ourselves.

On High Holy Days, we speak of forgiveness. Yet, it is clearly stated in the High Holy Day prayer book, the machzor, that we cannot ask God to forgive us unless we are prepared to forgive each other. To forgive is a great mitzvah. Life is far too short to be petty and vengeful. There is the notion that all things that seem small and unimportant in the light of death are really small and unimportant in themselves.

This time is also about forgiving ourselves. We must have the faith that God does not want us to dwell on the mistakes of the past. God gives us the chance to correct our mistakes through teshuvah; improving our behavior and acting in such a way as not to commit in the future the mistakes of the past.

On Rosh Hashana and at the very end of Yom Kippur, the shofar, the ram’s horn, is sounded. The great sage, physician and philosopher of the Middle Ages, Maimonides, explains that the piercing sound of the shofar is designed to wake us up from our spiritual slumber so we can examine our deeds. There is no one among us who could not be better. What’s done is done. We cannot mourn the past; we can only resolve to act in a way that brings us a better future. The High Holy Day Season is a precious gift. Let us use it well.

These "Spirituality Notes" are excerpts from our monthly E-newsletter. Articles are © JBFCS Rita J. Kaplan Jewish Connections Programs and may be reprinted free of charge as long as this credit line is included.

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