We are about to enter the month of Tishri — the seventh month of the Jewish year. It seems odd that the holiday Rosh Hashana - the Jewish New Year - is in the month of Tishri. However, the Bible speaks of Rosh Hashana as occurring on the first day of the seventh month.

This is interesting, but not particularly earth-shattering.
What is important is that we soon will be entering a very holy time in the Jewish calendar. The 10 day period, starting with Rosh Hashana and ending on Yom Kippur are known as the “Days of Awe” (or the “Days of Repentance”). It is a time for serious introspection, a time to consider our mistakes of the previous year. Just as we Americans use the secular New Year as a time to plan a better life by making resolutions, we use the Jewish New Year as a time to look back at the mistakes of the past year and plan the changes that need to be made in the new one.

Temple Beth El needs all of us to join together in worship, in study and in deeds of loving kindness to help make our spiritual home the warm and caring place we all want it to be. Let us decide what we can do in this new year - the year 5766 -that will affect in a positive manner ourselves, our neighbors, our congregation, and our community.

Peggy and I wish you and your family a L’Shana Tovah Tikatevu!
Dennis Frank