Rosh Hashanah

The reading from the Torah on the first day of Rosh Hashanah tells the story of the birth of Isaac.  From Sarah’s point of view, it is a story of redemption from a lifetime of infertility.  The story begins:  “The Lord remembered Sarah.”

The Torah could have said, “the Lord rewarded Sarah,” or “the Lord had mercy on Sarah.” Of all possible verbs, why “remembered”?  (Who would have thought that God had forgotten her?)

Perhaps the Torah’s message is that memory itself can be a redemptive force.  Sometimes the most important gift that we can give to others is simply to let them know that we have not forgotten them, that we still feel connected to them.

A wonderful way to prepare for Rosh Hashanah (which is also called Yom Hazikaron, the Day of Remembrance), is to contact people who have been part of our lives, and let them know that they are in our thoughts, that we remember them.  It is one small way in which we can help to redeem the world.

May the power of memory bring blessings to all of us during this High Holiday season.

• Candle lighting this Friday evening September 15, Erev Rosh Hashanah, is at 6:16 pm
• Our service for the eve of Rosh Hashanah, Friday September 15, begins at 6 pm. Our services for the two days of Rosh Hashanah, Saturday and Sunday September 16 and 17, begin at 8:15 am (the service on the second day is followed by a kiddush-lunch, open to all). Complete information on our services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is available here.