What is 5776?
“A New Year represents new hopes, dreams and aspirations. Make them a reality.”
In 1915, Jews all over the world celebrated the beginning of the New Year 5776 – Rosh Hashanah, beginning Sunday evening, September 13th through the evening of Tuesday, September 15th. (In Israel Rosh Hashanah is traditionally celebrated for only one day). According to the story in the Torah the number 5776 is also the age of the first human, Adam. He was created on the sixth day. “And Hashem God formed the man of dust from the ground, and He blew into his nostrils the soul of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). Those who consider the scientific calculation that our planet is 4.5 billion years old, have difficulty accepting the story of the creation of our world in 6 days. The Torah uses 6 days to demonstrate that the world was created in stages, where each day is considered lasting for many million years, and that we, humans, were part of the process and that we actually the last who were created. It also showed us that life has cycles, and after working hard for six days, “By the seventh day God completed his work which He had done, and he abstained on the seventh day from all his work which He had done” (Genesis 2:2). While writing this story on Sunday, I received a phone call from my friend Shlomo Zarchi, Rabbi of the Chevra Thilim synagogue, inquiring if he will see me that night for the evening prayer. Rabbi Zarchi told me that 5776 has yet another meaning. According to Gematria – Jewish Numerological System, where each letter has numerical value, it represents a word “teshua” which in English means “Redemption”. This year 5776 is going to be time of redemption. The question we are going to ask ourselves – “From what are we going to be redeemed?” and “What do we need to do for this to happen?” Ten days after Rosh Hashanah comes Yom Kippur – The Day of Atonement, during which those who attend services in synagogues pray and ask for forgiveness and beg God for good things in the new 5776 circle, in other words, for redemption.
If you are not among those few, and you are not Jewish, I think there is at least one more solution. When God was creating the world at the end of each day “And God saw that it was good” (Genesis1:12).
If you just see yourself and your world as good, I think you are well on the way to redemption.
P.S. One of the food traditions for Rosh Hashanah is to dip apple slices into honey, with the wish to have “A Good Sweet Year”. From the ancient times apples were known to have healthy properties. But I think there is yet another reason for apples. They are round and symbolize the circle, which doesn’t have a beginning or end, unless we make a mark, where the beginning and the end become one. Apples also grow abundantly and appear in different sizes and colors, like those I was fortunate to photograph.
Happy and Sweet New Year!
Do Not Keep Me As A Secret!
Smile And Please SHARE It With A Friend!
Cheers,
