* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
How many sounds have we heard this year? How many opinions, words, ideas, posts and videos? How much noise? How much was meaningful and valuable and how much was nonsense, fear, and negativity? It’s time to be quiet.
In a general letter addressed to the entire Jewish community many decades ago, the Lubavitcher imparted the following message: This is the time to be quiet. Be careful: Don’t waste Rosh Hashanah with politics, news and the latest updates. On the two days of Rosh Hashanah, focus on areas in which you can have an immediate impact: your character and your connection to God. Here are his words:
”The days of Rosh Hashanah are great and sublime days, but in many places, these days are used for discussion of global problems and current affairs. Messages are delivered that don't obligate anyone personally. They talk about 'big' matters, about the world's problems, when in most cases we have no influence on these issues, but this is a convenient excuse not to pay attention to the personal soul-searching that Rosh Hashanah requires, not to engage in areas where we have complete influence over the outcomes.”
And here he mentions the central commandment of Rosh Hashanah - the blowing of the shofar. On Tuesday and Wednesday we hear the sounds of the shofar, not before we bless and then remain silent. We heard so many sirens this year, unfortunately. Here is an siren of a different kind, of hope:
”The shofar - it is the only commandment that is truly an obligation of the day. In blowing the shofar we crown God over the entire world, and over us personally. We change the course of our personal lives for the better. May it be God's will that every man or woman will utilize these holy hours, in the two days of Rosh Hashanah, for awakening of the soul, and not for dealing with the general problems of the world and the state.”
Amen. You are invited to find out where the closest shofar blowing is to your residence, in a synagogue, Chabad house, park, or neighborhood community center. Let us not "waste" these 48 hours on all the noise outside. Let us hear the voice of the shofar, which is the voice of our divine soul.
Shana Tova!
