Thought for the Day: Rosh Hashanah
“…Jewish tradition teaches that we are defined by what we give.”
Good morning,
The Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah, which commences this evening. Feels very different this year, particularly in the shadow of Iran’s missile attack on Israel last night.
Synagogue services, family meals, rousing melodies and familiar customs will all take place, but it will be hard to celebrate as we now approach the anniversary of the seventh of October terror attacks by Hamas and after a year of profound pain and conflict, these words of our prayers for the new year will weigh more heavily than ever.
On Rosh Hashanah, it is written, who will live and who will die, who will be at peace and who will be pursued, who will know tranquillity and who will be tormented. These ancient words speak to the fragility of life, something we felt intensely this past year.
Yet even in the face of darkness, we reach for hope, and I find a symbol of that hope in one of Rosh Hashanah’s most cherished customs, eating apple dipped in honey, a simple ritual which carries deep meaning. In the accompanying prayer, we ask God for a good and sweet new year. Notice the dual request, not just for goodness, but also for sweetness.
Life often gives us what is good but not sweet, like bitter medicine that heals. On other occasions, we may experience sweetness that we know isn’t good for us. Our prayer is for a year of both goodness and sweetness.
Beyond this, the apple and honey carry further symbolism. An apple is fresh and vibrant, but perishable honey, however, never spoils. So while the apple reminds us of life’s temporary nature, the honey represents perpetuity, the eternal values and traditions passed down through generations.
This combination is a metaphor for Jewish Life, the blending of the timely with the timeless. Just as the sharpness of the apple is softened by the sweetness of honey, so too are life’s adversities eased by the connection to our heritage which binds us together.
A look back through Jewish history reminds us that despite unimaginable persecution, our ancestors persevered while proudly passing down their faith and values, their resilience teaches us that if they could endure, so can we.
As we welcome the new year, our prayers turn to the future. At a time of tragic, widespread global conflict, we pray for the fulfilment of the vision of the prophet Micah, who foresaw a time when peoples will beat their swords into ploughshare’s and their spears into pruning hooks, a time when nation will not take up sword against nation nor train for war anymore. A time of both goodness and sweetness for all of humankind.
