Happy Renewed Year

Happy birthday world. The world will be 5779 years old this Rosh Hashanah. (To be precise, that takes place on the 25th of Elul. Rosh Hashanah is the sixth day of Creation, the day Adam and Eve were created. That will be the subject of another article.)

What is the opposite of old? When we think in terms of people and their birthdays we think the opposite of old is young. When we think of things or perhaps to our topic we can see that the real opposite of old is new.

Each year the world does get older but it also is renewed. In fact the idea of a New Year is not a common reference in Jewish Tradition in relation to Rosh Hashanah.

Rosh Hashanah means Head of the Year. Just as the head is the central control of the entire body, Rosh Hashanah is the central control for the entire year and where the year draws all of its nurture.

I’ve heard the 48 hours of Rosh Hashanah likened to brain surgery. Every moment is precious, delicate and must be used out carefully. In a similar fashion Rosh Hashanah is a delicate time where the other 352 days of the year are determined.

This is the real reason we spend time in prayer on Rosh Hashanah instead of partying as many others who celebrate their New Years.

Being that Rosh Hashanah is a time of renewal, making the old new again, we do wish each other blessings of renewal. In fact when we dip the apple in honey, or tne varying other customs of foods specifically eaten on Rosh Hashanah eve, we say “may You Renew for us a Shana Tova Umetuka”.

So may it be for you!

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