From the Desk of Cheryl Hauer
In his book, 60 Days: A Spiritual Guide to the High Holidays, author Simon Jacobson has this to say as Elul draws to a close:
When God created human beings in His image, He invested something Divine in us. We partner with Him to perfect the world. It is as if He founded a business and said to us, “I am the investor, but you stand behind the counter.”
Partners are accountable to each other. In the month of Elul, we take out our ledgers and make sure our accounts are in order. Rosh Hashanah is audit day. God checks the books to see how we took care of His investment in us.
In so doing He doesn’t look for perfection. He didn’t create imperfect human beings to ask, “Why weren’t you perfect?” He asks us only, “Why aren’t you as much as you could’ve been?” But that’s a tough question, and as Elul draws to a close, each of us must know how to answer it.
As Elul ends and Rosh Ha Shanah dawns, it is almost as if the universe is holding its breath, everything waiting in a sort of cosmic silence for its contract to be renewed. Although the literal meaning of Rosh Ha Shanah is “head of the year,” the holiday has deeper and much more profound meanings than just “New Year’s Day.” From Simon Jacobson:
It is the holiday when we celebrate the birthday of the world – the day that humanity came into existence. We set out lavish feasts, dipping apples in honey for a sweet new year.
It’s a holiday when the earth trembles as the shofar is blown, its heart-rending sounds vibrating through us. It reminds us that this is the day God sits in judgment of us.
It’s a holiday when, after a month “in the field,” the king returns to his palace, and we come to him to pay homage and acknowledge him as our King.
It’s a holiday when we ask God to remember us for life and to inscribe us in the Book of Life.
It is a day of judgment, a somber fact that could be frightening. But really, it shouldn’t frighten us. God is not asking for perfection. Only mankind does that, comparing ourselves to one another and chastising ourselves for not being perfect, often living under condemnation of our own making.
God knows that we are dust, that we are incapable of perfection. That’s how He created us. So, He gives us a month to do our accounting, to make sure that our books are in order. And we open those books to Him to give Him a chance to check and see how we took care of His investment. That’s the true meaning of God’s judgment. It’s actually an act of compassion. God gives us an opportunity to face Him and give a report. Together with Him, we look at those areas where we have not measured up. And in His extravagant love and mercy, He allows us to repent and accept His incredible forgiveness. It’s an opportunity to renew our contract with our Creator, to draw close to Him again after a year of drifting away.
So, Rosh Hashanah is not a day to be feared. It’s really a great gift. Simon Jacobson says it’s God's vote of confidence in us that we can live up to our greatest potential. This is what we should keep in mind on Rosh Hashanah as we open our hearts to Him. He is a just God and in dealing with imperfect humanity, it is only just that He bring with Him mercy.
Blessings and Shalom,
Issachar Community
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