Shannah Tovah!

David Taub

Literally, it means “have a good new year” in Hebrew. Tonight (Monday), the Jewish world celebrates Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and start of the High Holiday season.

The Jewish New Year is not celebrated with champagne and revelry, but with apples and honey for sweetness, or maybe a brisket — top round this year in my household. There will be blasts of the shofar, the ram horn instrument replicating the sound of crying for our sins.

Like many Jews, I don’t fully understand the Hebrew calendar. I know that the High Holidays always fall in September or October; Hanukkah is usually in December — except that one time it was on Thanksgiving; and Passover is sometime in March or April.

At a High Holiday sermon several years ago, my Rabbi reminded the congregation, “you don’t have to, you get to!”

But Is It a Happy New Year?

While our community is wishing for a good year, has it really been a happy one?

Hostages remain in captivity in Gaza; a terrible war rages in the Middle East; and antisemitism remains in America and around the world — incidents rose in the U.S. 212% in the past year.

Israel continually gets blamed for defending itself after the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks. Locally, the Fresno County Democratic Party turned its back on Israel, calling the war “genocide.”

Many in the Jewish community, locally and elsewhere, bristle at the “genocide” label. What is happening in Gaza is not genocide — a deliberate infliction on members of a group. What genocide occurs when Israel literally gives warnings to the people of Gaza to leave to avoid a pending attack?

Israel is battling Hamas, and war is horrible. Innocent people are dead. But, Israel must wipe out the terrorist group to prevent another Oct. 7.

Using terms like “genocide” is another step toward delegitimizing Israel’s right as a Jewish state.

The war could and should end today if Hamas releases the hostages and lays down its arms.

What the Fresno Dems have done is the same blame game and scapegoating that has seemingly happened throughout world history. Jews are unfairly blamed for the world’s problems, while others get a pass. Where is the resolution in the Russia-Ukraine conflict? Or Armenia-Azerbaijan?

I wonder what’s the difference?

But where there is life, there is hope. Where there is humanity, there is grace, understanding, and forgiveness.

S’lichah

S’lichah means “I’m sorry.” In this 10-day period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur — the Day of Atonement observed the night of Oct. 1 — Jews ask for forgiveness for transgressions.

We ask not only of our Maker, but of our fellow man.

And, we not only ask as individuals, we collectively pray, forgive us. Forgive me.

So, for all those I’ve hurt, intentionally or not, I am sorry and ask you to please forgive me.

For the times I have been frustrated and frustrating;

For the times I have argued;

For the times I have not listened;

For the times I have had negative thoughts or comments;

For the times I have lost your confidence;

For being stiff-necked;

For being rude;

For using profanity;

S’lach lanu (pardon us), Mechal lanu (forgive us), Kaper lanu (grant us atonement).