Be in your discomfort – Preparing for Rosh Hashanah 5784

I’ve never related to people who dislike the marking of their birthday.  I find my birthday to be a joyous and positively uplifting day.  Conversely, there are those who find rainy days to be uplifting and nourishing :-).

Anytime we experience a milestone day (anniversary, birthday, etc.), it brings up thoughts both positive and negative.  A birthday can bring up gratitude for what we’ve accomplished thus far in our lives or in the prior year.  It can also be a day that marks our shortcomings and how much we’ve missed out on.  

Rosh Hashanah is a milestone day that can bring up conflicting emotions.  Furthermore, our emotions are framed by the experiences of the prior year.  Gratitude on this day can be multiplied and the introspection and reflection can be intensified.

As the month of preparation progresses, we are likely to experience a heighteing of these emotions.  For all of us this year has been challenging.  Some have risen to the challenge and others have been crushed by it.  Some have looked inward and others have looked outward.

I’ve been reflecting on this year and realized that I’ve invested so much energy in trying to figure out how to deal.  Even though so much of it has been positive, personal growth, intensified relationships, reevaluating purpose and so much more, an opportunity has been passed over.  That opportunity is to just be in the discomfort.  

We are taught to eliminate pain (the drug industry), to find ways to express our frustrations and to talk it out.  While that is all good, there is great value in the discomfort itself.  Being in the discomfort allows for the benefits of the circumstances to take root.

Think of it like a seed rotting in the earth before the plant begins to grow.  If we rush the growth of the plant we miss out on the full nourishment the plant can nurture from the earth.  That only happens when the seed is in its discomfort and allows itself to rot.

Take some time this month and be in your discomfort.  Connect with G-d through prayer and study.  Allow for the discomfort of this year to live inside of you for a little bit.  And then, refreshed embrace all the opportunities that the New Year will bring!

With blessings for a ksiva vchasima tova, a healthy, sweet good year filled with amazing blessings for you and your loved ones!

Shabbat Shalom!

Enjoying what
you've read?

Here's more.

August 28, 2019

Jerusalem, Atlanta

Rabbi Schusterman

Judaism has some very obvious unique core beliefs.  Among them is the role that Israel in general and...

September 6, 2017

It’s All In The Smile

Chabad Intown

The Mishna states “receive everyone with a pleasant face”. We are being taught in this Mishna...

August 18, 2022

Show me the Manna

Rabbi Schusterman

Money money makes the world go round.  It drives blessings, it drives challenge, it drives people to...