The new moon rose here in New York at 6:56 this morning. The fall equinox is Friday afternoon at 4:02. Today is the 29th of Elul on the Hebrew calendar, so tonight is Rosh HaShanah: new year 5778.
I take a moment to wish my friends and relations a happy and healthy year, but I am stuck on the horrors facing the people of Burma, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Ukraine, St. Louis, California, Texas, Florida, the Virgin Islands, and so many other places.
On Rosh HaShanah, we recite the liturgical poem Unetanneh Tokef, which says that everyone of us passes before God on this day. That, like sheep before the shepherd, we are counted and evaluated and our destinies are determined. The poem says our fates are written in a book:
The prayer concludes: "But Repentance, Prayer, and Charity Avert the Severe Decree!"Who will live and who will die?Who will live a long life and who will die before their time?Who will perish by fire and who by water?Who by sword and who by beast?Who by famine and who by thirst?Who by earthquake and who by epidemic?Who by strangling and who by stoning?Who will rest and who will wander?Who will live in harmony and who will be harassed?Who will enjoy tranquility and who will suffer?
I think not. I think we can resist official impunity and police murder. I think we can resist the selfishness that denies global warming. I think we can resist xenophobia and homophobia and white supremacy and misogyny. I think we can even resist earthquakes by fighting against fracking.
The world is much bigger than we. Hurricanes will continue. So will tectonic movement. But we can look out for each other instead of ignoring each other's suffering.
L'Shanah Tovah.
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