Reflection and Gratitude

As we are about to enter the year 5786, it is appropriate to reflect upon the year just past. That is, in fact, one of the central themes of this season, which we call the Yomim Noraim – the Days of Awe. We are all mortal flesh and blood, and we must come to terms with how we have led our lives over the past year. It is on Rosh Hashana that we are judged by the “Heavenly Court,” and our fate for the coming year is determined. Who will live, who will die, and how – these are among decrees made in Heaven on Rosh Hashana.

Even though we focus more on God’s Kingship over the universe – and its birth – than on our sins of the past year, the need for repentance is never far from our thoughts as we pray for a blessed upcoming year.

It is with that in mind that I want to express my profound gratitude to HaShem for all the blessings He has bestowed upon me. I am blessed with good health, as is my wife. I am blessed with wonderful children, whose accomplishments in life so far I could only have dreamed about when they were small children. I could not be prouder of all of them – each unique and accomplished in their own way. I could not be prouder of my grandchildren, most of whom are beginning their lives as responsible adults. And of course, there are my great-grandchildren. I am truly blessed beyond what I feel I deserve.

I have expressed these feelings publicly before, but to the best of my recollection never here. My gratitude to God for all these undeserved blessings knows no words. I am humbled.

I only wish that these kinds of blessings be bestowed upon my readers and upon all of Klal Yisroel. There is no amount of money that can buy blessings like these.

On a communal level, however, we have had yet another difficult year. The war against our enemies in Gaza is ongoing. People are dying, and the job is not finished. Much of the world has been influenced to vilify Israel because of it, disregarding Israel’s existential necessity to defeat her enemies. Whether Israel is going about it the right way is a matter of debate, but clearly Israel does NOT intentionally kill innocent people – even though much of the world describes it that way, falsely calling it a “genocide.” Meanwhile, there seems to be no end in sight to the war, and Israel’s support continues to erode.

Politicians once considered Israel’s friends have abandoned her. Antisemitic attacks have increased to frightening proportions all over the world. I do not recall ever feeling so depressed about our situation.

So as I pray for my continued blessings and wish them upon all, I also pray for an end to this war – an end that will finally bring the security to our people that has been so elusive since Israel’s very creation. This is something we must all pray for during these Days of Awe. Because without God’s salvation, we are lost.

May God grant us the peace and tranquility for which we so long – with a successful end to the war. And may He restore Israel’s reputation as a shining light of ethics and morality to the world. 

K’siva V’Chasima Tova to all.