Here we stand on the cusp of a new year. Opportunity awaits us; there is excitement in the air. For many, the emphasis is upon celebrating, whether in a small group or at some grand event. 2015 passes in review. News summaries of the past year will include war, violence and loss of life. Great sadness nearly overwhelms us upon being reminded of such great loss. Inside ourselves we desperately hope that 2016 will be different than 2015; that’s why we celebrate! We celebrate in advance for the possibility that 2016 will be defined by happiness, love, sharing, beauty and goodness! We celebrate in order to begin a year with the hope that the year can continue with goodness as long as possible. We wish each other HAPPY NEW YEAR loudly so that the echoes of our greetings will resonate as deeply into 2016 as possible; negating in a minuscule manner negative news which is most likely just around the bend. Our emphasis on Happy New Year showcases an optimistic yearning for a better world. And our voices are shared with others.
A prayer for 2016-
God of all life, as all of your children, prepare to mark time in celebration, let them remember that life is the greatest of all gifts. Let our daily individual and communal choices reflect this awareness. Teach us, one by one, to live life in gratitude and appreciation. Let us not steal life from others. Enter each of us in mind and spirit to motivate us to care for others and when truly angry, may we have the strength to simply walk away. Bless our loved ones with peace and keep our enemies far away from us. Let the year shared by the entire human race be a year of which we can all be proud when reviewing it in 2017.
Let there be shalom for all.
This week’s Torah reading (Sh-mote) catapults one individual into a role which he wished to avoid. Named Moses by his adoptive mother after he was weaned and his original name unknown to us, he responds to a minority’s daily sufferings and transforms a society which brutalizes people considered ‘other’. Reluctantly, Egypt inexorably and begrudgingly begins to move in a new direction –only to be stymied by one man’s (Pharaoh’s) personal stubbornness. A lesson for us all is that one man can change a nation for the better or for the worse.
May we all grow in our abilities to make our world better.
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Steve Silberman
Reminder-“The writing’s on the wall”. This expression enters the English language and literature from our Hebrew Bible. Come and join us as we check out the Book of Daniel- a secretive and strange book –Mondays from Noon to 1:00p.m.This scene becomes revealed on Jan. 4,2016.
Tonight- How exciting that Alabama is in the Cotton Bowl! Roll Tide! (and for our Shul members who are not Bama fans- let’s be excited that the SEC is represented!)
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