HAPPY NEW YEAR 5787!

If you are reading this on Friday, this evening begins the celebration of the Jewish New Year—Rosh Hashanah.

The Jewish calendar follows a different system from the Gregorian calendar most of us use every day. The year 5787 represents, according to Jewish tradition, the number of years since the creation of the world—and, symbolically, the creation of the first human beings, Adam and Eve.

Rosh Hashanah is much more than simply the beginning of another year. It is a time of awakening. In the synagogue, we hear the blowing of the shofar, the ram’s horn. Its sound is like a wake-up call, reminding us to stop, listen, and look at ourselves.

Ten days later comes Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, when Jews traditionally reflect on their actions during the past year, ask forgiveness, and seek to make things right. But the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are especially meaningful. They give us time to acknowledge our shortcomings and think about what we would like to change or improve in our lives. Perhaps that is a lesson we can all take from the holiday.

Sometimes we need to slow down before we move forward. We don’t always need to start a new business, begin a new relationship, or make another major decision. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is pause and ask ourselves:

What can I do better this year?
How can I become a better person?
What would I like to change in my life?

Rosh Hashanah is also a celebration. Traditionally, we eat apples dipped in honey, symbolizing the hope for a sweet new year, and gather with family and friends for festive meals.

The holiday is traditionally celebrated for two days. It is connected with the Jewish practice of determining holidays according to the new moon. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, observing the new moon became more difficult, and the two-day observance became established for communities outside the Land of Israel, with many Jewish communities continuing this tradition today.

So, Rosh Hashanah is both a beginning and a reminder: life is precious, time moves forward, and every new year gives us another opportunity to improve ourselves.

And now, a personal connection to the apples you see in these images. The three apple images came from our recent visit to Portland, Oregon. While we were there, I visited a farmers’ market with an incredible variety of apples. I photographed 17 different apples, and from all those images, I chose these three to share with you and with my friends. It seemed especially appropriate to share them now—at a time when apples and honey remind us of our wish for a sweet new year.

So, as we begin the year 5787, my wish for you is simple: May you have a joyful, healthy, peaceful, and prosperous New Year, surrounded by people you love.

Shanah Tovah! May it be a good and sweet year for all of us.