Rant #2,982: Say a Prayer

Happy Rosh Hashanah to those who celebrate this holiday.
 
It is the beginning of the Jewish New Year, and it time to atone for one’s sins during the previous year.
 
You hope that God treats you kindly, and that he turns over the page in the book devoted to you, and that you go on to live another year.
 
But the High Holy Days are just that, days, so we still have to get through the entire holiday, which culminates with the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, which commences at sundown on Tuesday, October 4 and lasts until sundown on Wednesday, October 5.
 
That is the biggie, and one atones for his sins by fasting for an entire day, to demonstrate to God that you are worthy.
 
It is much tougher to get through these holidays if you attend services at your synagogue than it is to do it at home.
 
Synagogues are packed during the High Holy Days, with most people there only attending their local shul for services during this time of year.
 
I can tell you from past experience that the dovening during these holidays, and particular on Yom Kippur, is difficult while attending services, as the constant up and down of the service—when the Ark is opened, everyone stands, when it closes, everyone sits—makes it tough.
 
Those days are apparently over for me.
 
Since my son had his bar mitzvah 14 years ago, and we were not treated well by our fellow Jews when our synagogue merged with another temple, we have not joined a temple as a family, so we don’t go to services.
 
It does not mean that we renounced our religion—in fact, I feel that my faith is stronger than ever—but we do not attend services anymore.
 
We reflect on the holidays at home, and I continue to fast during Yom Kippur at home.
 
Funny, being away from the synagogue all of these years has made my faith that much stronger, inwardly if not outwardly.
 
I am Jewish, my wife and son are, too, and we know who we are and what we are, with our without synagogue attendance being in the mix.
 
I have learned that you can make your own synagogue without actually being in one, and that is what I do during the High Holy Days.
 
Sure, some people will say it is a copout, but that is not the point; this is the way I have decided to handle my religious life, and it is my personal choice to do so.
 
It is better than being there while not being there, which happened when I was a kid, attending the services with my father and friends, and we spent more time outside the shul than inside of it as the services went on.
 
Sure, I suffered with everyone else when I was inside the shul, but we used to spend so much time outside that it almost gave us a break to our suffering.
 
So I almost believe that we are on equal plain now with those days past.
 
And when I fast for Yom Kippur, I know why I am still doing it and will continue to do it for as long as my body will allow.
 
I do it for myself, for my family, and for God, and it will suffice—and yes, I do feel so much better after the fast is over, as if the time I have not eaten or had anything to drink has given me new energy to begin the new year on the right foot.
 
There are similarities between the Jewish New Year and the New Year we all celebrate on January 1.
 
Both are times for renewal, both are times to look back at the past year and try to do better during the dawning of the new year.
 
The similarities pretty much end at that, but the self reflection part of the two equations is really essential as we move into the respective New Years.
 
How can I be better this new year than I was last year?
 
That is a question for the ages no matter what New Year you are talking about, and it is up to the individual to come up with an answer to that weighty question.
 
Right now, I personally do not have an answer to that question, but none of us are perfect, and we can all improve our beings from one day to the next, from one week to the next, and from one year to the next.
 
Jews are contemplating this question right now, so maybe it gives us something of a leg’s up on the rest of the world.
 
So when you wish “Happy New Year” “L'Shana Tovah” to both your Jewish friends and your non-Jewish friends alike, it is really a direct greeting for your Jewish friends, but for your non-Jewish friends, it is really a head’s up on what they may be contemplating for the future, three months ahead of time.
 
Everyone have a good holiday!
 
I will not be at this perch tomorrow, as I have an early appointment, but I will be here bright and early on Wednesday, so speak to you then.