A challenge for the New Yeark

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is the day which, according to our tradition, man was created. The event of creation took place 5,770. As such, each year at this time Jews throughout the world gather in synagogues for prayer and to re-establish their spiritual roots.

We consider whether we are fulfilling the intended mission of our creation which is to proclaim God as our king and to conduct ourselves according to his commandments. In the event that we have not asked God for his forgiveness, through a process of repentance which culminates on Yom Kippur, we make a commitment that we will improve ourselves in the future.

In a fascinating anecdotal biography of a great sage, Reb Aryeh Levine (1985-1969), who lived in Jerusalem, the following inspirational story is recounted:

On a day before Yom Kippur, Samuel Hugo Bergman, the late professor of philosophy at the Hebrew University, once came to visit him, and in the course of the conversation the man confessed that here, at nightfall, the most solemn day of the year would begin, and he still felt no spiritual awakening of a desire to pray. At that, Reb Aryeh arose from his seat and took the professor’s hand between his palms. “I envy you,” said he with unabashed sincerity, “you are a man of spiritual status. It distresses you that you are unable to pray; whereas I simply know I must go to the synagogue and pray as usual, like people with a lifetime habit.”

What a powerful message. With profound philosophic and religious insight, Reb Aryeh defined the true theme of the High Holy days. It is not simply being present at the synagogue, reciting the prayers and listening to a sermon, rituals that we have grown accustomed to from year to year — an experience from which we depart with a degree of smugness as having fulfilled religious requirement. It needs to become a life-altering encounter which stimulates our search, inquiry and striving to enrich our personal religious life. It needs to become a spiritual pilgrimage providing us with the impetus for a quest for the presence of God in our daily everyday lives. When the great Chassidic leader known as the Kotzker Rebbi (1787-1859) was asked where God is, he replied wherever He is allowed to enter.

Samuel Hugo Bergman and Reb Aryeh Levin presented a challenge and it is now for us, as we inaugurate a new year, to confront it with recognition and reflection as we advance in our encounter with God.

With wishes for a happy and healthy New Year to the entire Long Beach community.

Rabbi Dr. Chaim Wakslak serves as

spiritual leader of Young Israel of Long Beach, at 120 Long Beach Blvd. He can be contacted at (646) 285-5301 or (516) 431-2404.

Schedule of Rosh Hashanah

Services at the Young Israel:

Sept. 18: Light Candles at 6:43 p.m., evening services at 7 p.m.

Sept. 19: Morning services at 8 a.m., children’s services 10:30 a.m., beginner’s services at 10:30 a.m., light candles after: 7:47 p.m.

Sept. 20: Morning services: 8 a.m.,children’s services at 10:30 a.m., beginner’s services 11 a.m., Shofar Sounding at 11 a.m., Rosh Hashanah Ends at 7:47 p.m.