Rabbi's Blog

Dear OZ family,    

Shana Tova Umetuka!

According to Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer, today (25 Elul) is the real Rosh Hashana.

That is to say that the 1^st of Tishre is actually the 6^th day of creation.

God said, “Let there be light” today, and what we observe as Rosh Hashana actually celebrates the emergence of the purpose of creation, namely the human being created in the image of God. There is a Midrash that says that if man acts with hubris he should be reminded that flies and gnats were created before him. If he demonstrates arrogance, let him remember that the worm will get the best of him. the problem is that these are facts of life whether we behave with hubris or not. Rather, in light of this source that has our creation on the 1^st of Tishre, this means to teach that proper human behavior recognizes that we are the purpose of creation. That is to say that we enhance human dignity, that we are careful to be worthy guardians of all that God placed in this universe before we arrived.

This is what it means to say Shana Tova Umetuka on the 25^th of Elul.

Today is also the day that Nechemia finished the protective wall around Jerusalem that completed the rebuilding project of the city. That wall can be seen in the Old City just beyond the Rova a little North of the Ramban shul. It too signified a new beginning in the second commonwealth of Israel and Judea (See Nechemia 6:15).

May we all be worthy of auspicious beginnings and the strength for renewal and rejuvenation.

Be safe.  Be healthy.  Be excellent.

Rabbi Allen Schwartz

Rabbi Allen Schwartz

Congregation Ohab Zedek

118 West 95^th Street | New York, NY  10025-6604

Phone 212.749-5150, ext 200 | Fax 212.663-3635

E-mail ras@ozny.org

Website:  www.ozny.org