Past and Future - The Hope of the High Holy Day Season
As with all great religious heritages there is a natural flow to the Jewish calendar.
The days from Rosh Ha Shanah (Birthday of the World) to Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) are known as Yomim Ha Noraeem (Days of Awe). During the Days of Awe, the emphasis is on shoring up mistakes of the past.
The end game is to purge sins, and to make as whole as practically possible anyone we hurt, intentionally, unintentionally; or even with the best of intentions.
For the sake of three things will the Holy One re-write what He inscribed for us in the Book of Life (Sefer Chayim). They are Tefillah, Teshuvah Veh Tzaddakah (Prayer, Repentance and Charity).
In order to stand before our Creator in purity, we must communicate with the Almighty through individual and collective prayer. This will keep up our motivation to choose good over evil.
We must take responsibility for our misdeeds, make amends, learn from past errors. We should be righteous and help others and ourselves. We must turn away from the corrupting influences of society. We should return our souls to the pristine state of purity when loaned to us by G-d for this life. This is personal and communal. We are as responsible for being there for others as for ourselves.
We must do charity for the practical side of life.We should also be charitable by generosity of the spirit. To accept and tolerate that we and others will never be perfect. Yet we are perfectible. We can always improve.
The Days of Awe are about learning from, correcting the past to position ourselves for a better future. "Min ha avar atidnu yephtach". From the past derives our future.
Yet before the Days of Awe get rolling, we celebrate the birthday of the world with a party. We eat a new fruit. We wear new clothing. We eat an apple with honey. We look forward to a sweet New Year.
In the Days of Awe we focus on the past to improve the future. On Rosh Ha Shanah we focus on the future. So which is it, past or future?
It is both!
We start by keying in on what is to come. We cannot un-ring a bell. We cannot turn back a clock. But we can make a better life for all around us and ourselves. Just because the past is like the past, the future isn't committed to that. Read David Hume's Treatise on Human Nature and the problem of induction.
In order to know how to create and implement a strategic and tactical plan for the future, we must learn from the past to keep the future open for a better time to come.
That is the hope of the High Holy Days. We can use the past for a better future for one and all.
To those celebrating it, Shanah Tovah Tichateyvu. May you be inscribed (and sealed) for a happy, healthy, fulfilling, prosperous, charitable, righteous, and useful New Year.
To everyone everywhere, may you all know a better future because of learning from the past and improving on it.
Peace and Abundant Blessings (Shalom U'vracha).
Enoch.
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The Four B's Apply.
Red Box Rules are in play.
Enough said.
Please contribute constructively.
Maturity rules.
E.
It is vitally important to learn from the past, and to acknowledge the mistakes made. Than, not to commit those same mistakes again.
Chag Sameach, Enoch.
Dear Friend Kavika: Agreed.
E.
Dear Friend Buzz: Gam leacha veh lechem.
The same to you and yours.
E.
Dear Friend Feronia: It is a time for getting things back on track.
This is something we all need to do from time to time.
Not that these are yomim ha noraeem, not yomim ha pachadadim.
That is to say, these are days of awe, not days offear.
The G-d we want to use as a role model inspires us to the point of our standing in awe, not in fear of Him.
I stand in awe of El Ma'aleh Rachamim. G-d filled with mercy. That's the role model for me.
Peace and Abundant Blessings.
E.
Dear Friend and Treasured Writing Partner Raven Wing: Whatever kindness I show here I learned from you.
A person could do far worse for role models than to learn from and emulate you.
Thanks.
Enoch.
Dear Friend Raven Wing: I am deeply moved, greatly honored and profoundly grateful for your kind and inspiring words and fellowship.
Many, many thanks.
E.
Dear Enoch,
I hope you and your family have a happy and healthy new year and an easy fast.
Dear Friend Perrie: The very same to you and yours.
Gomar Chatimah Tovah.
E.