If I have wronged you…

Right now Jewish people all over the world are preparing to celebrate the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashana) which falls over the next two days.

The Jewish New Year celebrations are nothing like traditional New Year’s shenanigans. There are no huge parties but there are two nights of ginormous dinners and, if you are really religious, or observant or lucky,  you’re likely to get two days of huge lunches as well. There are no new year resolutions but there are plenty of past year reflections, there are no big parties of drunken revelers  but families and friends share their huge meals together. There are no fireworks but there is a lot of praying time should you wish to join in.

I am not at all religious, in fact I’d say I’m not much of a believer, but I am Jewish.

It’s not a religious thing, it’s not even ideological but it is traditional and cultural. While the Jewish New Year is a very religious holiday (it marks the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve and is also the anniversary of  man’s first sin and his repentance thereof) it’s the customs rather than the prayer and religion that really get me.

One of the most important parts of preparing for Rosh Hashana  is to ask for forgiveness from anyone you may have wronged during the previous year. Similarly, we are encouraged to be quick to forgive those who have wronged us.

Jewish religion teaches that Rosh Hashana is the Day of Judgment. On Rosh Hashanah, God is said to inscribe the fate of every person for the upcoming year in the Book of Life or the Book of Death. The verdict is not final until Yom Kippur.
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Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Ten Days of Awe or Repentance (the days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur), during which we reflect upon our actions over the past year and seek forgiveness for our transgressions in hopes of influencing God’s final judgment.

I don’t believe in a vengeful or angry God and I really don’t believe that if a God existed they would be sitting around and judging us for swearing or eating the wrong foods or coveting our neighbour’s possessions or some such thing while people are dying in Syria or Darfur or Afghanistan or anywhere else for that matter. I don’t believe in a God that would judge me for my actions while allowing children to starve and be abused. I don’t believe in a God that would protect some people and not others but I love the idea of man making amends with his fellow man. I love the fact that even if we let it go for far too long there is a time, once a year ,when we are reminded to think about our actions and how they have affected other people.

I love the fact that tonight and tomorrow night I will have reason to sit with all my family even if it means I have to cook for 26 people tomorrow night. I love the fact that we will be eating round sweet foods (cake!) to symbolise a round and sweet year, I love that we have these continued opportunities to be together and to remember what really counts. Of course at our table all our thoughts will be with my father.

Wishing you a Shana Tova (happy new year) and if I have wronged you this year I am truly sorry.