Thursday, October 1, 2026
Becoming more spiritual
The Hebrew month of Elul, which is the month preceding the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, is the time of the year when Jewish people all over the world stop and examine all of their deeds from the preceding year. We try to be introspective and careful to ascertain whether or not we can be more sincere in fulfilling the commandments from the Torah. We try to see if there are ways for us to be more careful in our dealings with our fellow man. We attempt to resolve ourselves to be more honest in our relationship with G-d. If we are successful in accomplishing these goals, then we will, in this coming year, become more spiritual, and hence, achieve a closer relationship with G-d.
The way that one can accomplish this – in the category of our relationship with our fellow man – is to actually call and/or write, or e-mail the people with whom we interacted with this past year and to actually request that they forgive us for any intentional or unintentional misdeeds that we perpetrated against them this past year. In turn, if someone approaches us to request forgiveness, we are supposed to be compassionate and understanding and grant forgiveness … After all, G-d’s level of compassion with us is linked to our level of compassion with our fellow man.
In any event, if we take this Jewish tradition of “clearing our slate” seriously and sincerely, the end result will be that all of us arrive at Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur, standing before G-d, praying for a good, healthy and peaceful year, with our actions and intentions in sync with our requests … for a good, healthy, prosperous and peaceful year.
Shana Tova – Have a Great New Year!
Rabbi Howard Diamond
Congregation B’nai
Sholom - Beth David
A new chapter in the book of our lives
For Jews worldwide, this is the season of remembering. At this time of the year, more than any other, we make a conscious effort to review our lives and resolve to add meaning and value to them. We try to focus on the values that we would like to leave as a living legacy to those we love. In this spirit, let us consider what our spiritual diaries might look like for the past year. If you had kept a journal of 5771 (the year ending according to the Hebrew calendar), what would you have meticulously recorded? What were the most significant moments of your life? What brought you the deepest meaning? What caused your deepest fears? What did you regret? What joys caused your soul to soar to the highest heights? At this turning of the years, we ask, given a chance to turn back the clock, what would we have written in the book of our lives for this last year.
Each one of us can write a chapter of sacred moments. Jewish tradition is wonderful and wise, compelling us to look back each new year and count our blessings. We do, so that we can move forward into the year with a sense of wonder, meaning and humility. When our congregations gather as we begin the new year we do so with renewal born of possibility and commitment, in the spirit of forgiveness, and in the joy of celebration. Sadly, not a small number of us find it difficult include anything holy or sacred in our lives. Ironically, our lives have become torturously complicated as we have invented more ways to make life easier. We feel harried by demanding, exhausting schedules. It is often tough to pause and appreciate the special moments or the little wonders that we encounter each day. We do not consciously block holiness from our lives. We are living life intensely. We strive to meet our family obligations and responsibilities with integrity. How can we fit in holiness, too?
On Rosh Hashana we celebrate the birthday of the world, the creation itself. We pause and take note of the grandeur of our magnificent universe. If you look at your book this year and you cannot find holiness, try looking at the vast and wonderful creation. Retreat from the lights of the metropolis and look at the marvelous night sky or the glowing morning sunrise. Climb to the top of a mountain or take a walk among the fragrant pines in the forest; listen to the wind rustling the leaves. For me, all of these are expressions of a single creative force. Appreciation of any will help you develop a sense of holiness.
Our universe is gigantic beyond imagination. We live on Earth, the third planet in our solar system. Our solar system is part of a galaxy with billions of stars, in a universe with billions of galaxies, and still expanding into a vast nothingness about which we know nothing. Where do we fit into this incredible universe?
On this Rosh Hashana, we are not asking questions about the technical details of the Big Bang or any theory about the origin of the universe. At the beginning of this new year, Jewish tradition directs us to the majesty and the glory of creation. We are guided by the wisdom of our heritage to respond to the wonder of our existence. On this first day, take a moment to stand in awe of this incredible creation. Note how happy you are to be part of God’s scheme.
Take an inventory at the beginning of this new year. How will we make room this year for the sacred qualities of awe, love, tradition and community in our lives? Can we reach beyond ourselves to a vision of our highest selves and our highest view of reality?
On this Rosh Hashana we can write many things into the books of our lives. What will you inscribe this year? Remember that your chapter is part of a larger unity. Our chapters are woven together into a wonderful story of sharing and belief, caring and hope.
For all, may the new year be a time of inner wholeness and personal growth. May this year bring spiritual and religious development. May it be a year filled with the sharing of many sacred moments. On Rosh Hashana let all this be written and on Yom Kippur may it be sealed.
L’shana tova tikateivu. May you be inscribed for a good year.
Rabbi Marc A. Gruber
Central Synagogue
of Nassau County
