Happy 5771! Sunset Wednesday marked the beginning of Rosh Hashanah or “Head of the Year” or “First of the Year” in Hebrew.
“Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the spiritual calendar and the birth of the world. It serves as a reminder of the special relationship between God and his children, now and always. And it calls us to look within ourselves – to repent for our sins; recommit ourselves to prayer; and remember the blessings that come from helping those in need,” President Obama said in his message in honor of the Jewish New Year. “Today, those lessons ring as true as they did thousands of years ago. And as we begin this New Year, it is more important than ever to believe in the power of humility and compassion to deepen our faith and repair our world.”

During this time of reflection, repentance and renewal, are there areas of your life you seek to transform? Are you always living up to someone else’s expectations?
“The Jewish holidays, especially Rosh Hashanah, are not only for Jews. In fact, they celebrate the most basic human quest – the quest to make our lives richer, happier and more productive,” says Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, a Beliefnet blogger and president of CLAL, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. “So this Rosh Hashanah, whoever you are, and wherever you may be, take advantage of one ancient tradition’s ideas and practices to relocate the person you most want to be and enjoy the renewal and liberation that come from finding that person once again.”
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