This past weekend was the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah. It is the creation story in the Torah. This is the time where we read about the creation of the heavens and earth, the water and land, day and night, etc. While I was sitting at Shabbat dinner at a house that we have never eaten at before, I looked around at the group they had assembled. In the Orthodox world, most Friday night dinners are graced with numerous guests, and this one was no different.
There was the host family and their four children. Sitting next to them was a single mother and her two preteen sons. To their right was a family with two of their children eating with us and another spending Shabbat "down south" (in the south eruv). The parents were the guest speakers for Shabbat services and a ladies learning. Next to them were three teenage girls who were boarding "down south" and visiting for Shabbat. Then there was my family of four. The hosts (a Rabbi and Rebitzen) were very laid back and comfortable being a part of a diverse group. The children walked a thin line between sitting and playing, with playing taking the lead for most of the meal.
After the meal, and before dessert, the Rabbi did a little Torah talk. The discussion was on the Torah portion, which is the creation story. The Rabbi's take on it was that at this time of the year, as we are making new year's resolutions, starting the Teshuvah (forgiveness) process, and preparing for the holidays in general, this is also a time for us to recreate ourselves. We can take the qualities we were not as happy with this year and turn them into something we are proud of. We can improve on ourselves, as we are constantly a work in progress.
As I go into Rosh Hashanah, starting tomorrow night, I will be thinking of what I want to accomplish in the coming year and who I want to be. G-d is giving me the chance to recreate myself and improve on the areas that I feel need to be tweaked.
L'Shanah Tovah, Happy New Year. May the New Year be a Good Year.
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