Rabbi’s Column - Rosh haShanah 5784 - A Time for Healing
עֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁבֵּין אָדָם לַמָּקוֹם, יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים מְכַפֵּר. עֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁבֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ, אֵין יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים מְכַפֵּר, עַד שֶׁיְּרַצֶּה אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ
Regarding transgressions between a human being and the Divine, Yom Kippur provides atonement. Regarding transgressions between one human being and their fellow human being, Yom Kippur does not provide atonement, until the one [who transgressed] has satisfied their fellow human being.
Mishnah Yoma 8:9b
Happy New Year! In a few days, we will gather together as a congregation to celebrate another time that the earth has gone around the sun (or, more accurately by the Jewish luni-solar calendar, the 12 times the moon has gone around the earth). In our congregational family, this time is for many things - a chance for those who have not seen each other to meet and greet - either in person or on-line, to have some round challah, apples and honey, to hear from our Temple President about how things are going, to collect the flyers and plan out our Temple year, and/or to bring food for our annual drive.
Of course, there is another purpose to the Jewish New Year - t’shuvah. Our tradition reminds us that we might not have traveled exactly the path that we wished in the previous year, and we should take time to look back and make whatever corrections might be necessary. Ideally, we self-correct during the whole year, but, as human beings, we often need to be reminded how important it is to stop and to take stock.
T’shuvah can take many paths. For some of us, we have made promises to ourselves that we have not fulfilled, and we need to re-evaluate, refocus, or recommit. We may have made promises to God - full of great hopes last Rosh haShanah of what impact we would like to make in the world. Very often, we have not behaved toward those around us in the way that we should, or wished we could have. We would like to imagine that, in the twenty or so minutes of the repentance part of our Yom Kippur service, we can make that right, but the text above from the mishnah reminds us that there is other work that we have to do first. The Day of Atonement does not atone for transgressions between one person and another, until that other person is satisfied with their reparations.
As we approach this season of t’shuvah, let us take time to listen to those around us - not only to know what it is that they would have us do to make amends, but to listen to learn about grievances that may not even be on our radar. In addition, as a congregation, we hope to listen to each member of our community and learn what it is that would strengthen and/or heal your relationship with the Temple. But, we do not know what we do not know. If there is some way that we can make things better, please reach out and let us know what that might be. We do not want to wait until there is such a rift that it would take miles of effort to heal. That is why we take this moment each year - to heal ourselves and our relationships.
May we all move forward in true t’shuvah and have a sweet and happy New Year.
Rabbi Abraham
