my 2 cents

A New Year... Hopefully, with Peace

Rosh HaShana, the Jewish New Year, begins tonight.  It's not like the secular New Year, with parties and noisemakers and drinks.  

Instead, for Jews around the world, the Holidays are a time to reflect -- a time of thanks and of self-assessment.  We thank God for all the wonderful things He's given us and for Life itself.  And we look at how we've behaved over the past year and where we've made mistakes.  We ask God for forgiveness and for help and guidance to do better in the coming year.

In the end, it's very simply about doing the right thing -- treating others the way you would like to be treated.  After all the symbolism and tradition, that's really what it boils down to.  And that's what we all should strive for every day -- not only on the Holidays.

From what I read and hear, all major religions are pretty much about doing that right thing.  So I find it puzzling when I read about people protesting in order to deny others a place to pray and share their religious beliefs as a way to promote understanding.  I also find it puzzling that a minister -- a supposed man of God -- would promote the burning of other people's holy books.  The Koran may not be my bible, but I respect others' right to read and follow it.  Burning books... are we going back to the days leading to the Holocaust?  

The minister leading the book burning has, I've heard, a very small congregation.  So why is the media giving him so much attention -- much more than he merits, it seems.  A guy with a congregation of perhaps 50 people is getting a national pulpit and his actions of intolerance and hatred may bring other acts of hatred -- and likely violence -- in response.  Is the media being his pawn and helping him fan the flames?

I wonder.

Regardless... To all, Jewish or not -- best wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful Year. 

A New Year

Rosh HaShana, the Jewish New Year, begins tonight.  It's not like the secular New Year, with parties and noisemakers and drinks. 

Instead, for Jews around the world, the Holidays are a time to reflect -- a time of thanks and of self-assessment.  We thank God for all the wonderful things He's given us and for Life itself.  And we look at how we've behaved over the past year and where we've made mistakes.  We ask God for forgiveness and for help and guidance to do better in the coming year.

In the end, it's very simply about doing the right thing -- treating others the way you would like to be treated.  After all the symbolism and tradition, that's really what it boils down to.  And that's what we all should strive for every day -- not only on the Holidays.

To all, Jewish or not -- best wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful Year.  

Shalom.

David