Our daughter’s medical journey, though not an enjoyable one, has led our family to meet new people and experience situations we would have otherwise not had the opportunity to. One such recent encounter was with a scientist who shared with me a fundamental approach in medicine, derived from the teachings of Sir William Osler, a father of modern medicine. 
When faced with a perplexing set of symptoms, we always seek the economy of diagnosis, meaning, one unifying story that ties the whole picture together in lieu of several diagnoses that invoke a confluence of disparate, unrelated events. 
This reminded me of a method I learned from the Rebbe's teachings about how to best resolve apparent contradictions, complexities or challenges in Jewish thought. When dealing with questions on a passage of Talmud, a halachic ruling from Maimonides, or a commentary from Rashi: if one idea successfully answers more than one question, and especially when the same idea answers multiple questions across various topics, one can be more certain this is indeed a correct answer.
This parallel method to approaching, discerning and resolving challenges, also further demonstrates the idea that embedded in the Torah is the methodology and resolution to every conceivable issue one can face in life. Often we may feel that Torah, modernity and scientific discovery are at odds. In truth, however, the more deeply we delve into it, we realize that there is a true convergence. The only question might be how far are we willing to go. 
Discovering this harmonious balance and holistic approach is what we need as we prepare for Rosh Hashanah. The heightened spiritual awareness we experience during the High Holiday season can not simply be limited to an isolated time on the calendar or the specific location of the Synagogue. We must be able to adapt and live with this awareness year round, wherever we may be. Tapping into this energy, may also be the secret key to unlocking a happy and sweet year for us all.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins at sundown this evening, September 25 and ends at nightfall, Tuesday, September 27. Dip the apple in honey, hear the Shofar, and take in the awesomeness of the day.
On Rosh Hashanah, we celebrate the creation of the first human being; Adam. We are very familiar with G-d's call to Adam: "Where are you?"
This isn't just a story that took place many years ago. Rather, today too, we must understand that G-d asks each of us individually: "Where are you?"
Are you fulfilling the purpose for which I created you? Are you making this world a better place? Or are you, unfortunately, letting days, weeks, months and years go by, without any real growth or vitality?
This is the foundation of our faith; the belief that each one of us has it in his or her power, regardless of wealth or position, to turn the world into a better place, a force for good rather than evil.
Each year, when we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, we are reminded of our ability. Each year, Rosh Hashanah gives us a resurgence of the strength needed to fulfill these goals. This is a time for rejuvenation and commitment. A time to clarify our sense of purpose and fulfillment.
This is especially significant this year, as it is a Year of Hakhel - Gathering. During the Temple times, once every seven years, every man, woman and child, would gather to hear words of Torah read by the king to inspire them. Today we don't have a physical Temple, but the spiritual aspects of Hakhel very much apply. Indeed, each one of us can be "a king" in our surroundings, and inspire as many other "men, women, and children" as possible, to increase in acts of goodness and kindness.
May you and your loved ones be blessed with abundance of goodness, for a very happy and healthy sweet new year!

This Saturday night, we begin saying Selichot, the communal prayers for Divine forgiveness, prior to the High Holidays. Some Sephardic communities have already begun earlier this month. The custom this weekend is that the prayers are said at midnight, and for the next week until Rosh Hashanah, early each morning, from the crack of dawn.
As a child growing up, and into my teenage and adult years, these Saturday midnight prayers have always been very special. Everyone gathered at the Synagogue, had either just woken up, or had been studying, meditating or singing through the night, in preparation for the Selichot service. At the very moment the chazan begins the words Ashrei, we can all feel how the "Days of Awe" are now upon us.
Judaism believes in the power of Teshuva, that is the ability and power each one of us has to own up, to apologize and to sincerely repent. And when we do, we can ask G-d for forgiveness, and a new path opens before us.
This is described beautifully by Rabbi Sacks in his telling of the story of Judah/Yehudah.
"...A young man who sold his brother as a slave. His name was Yehudah. That was a real, real sin and yet he became the ancestor of Israel’s Kings. He became a lot more than that. We bear his name. We are called Jews because we are yehudim, because we are named after Yehudah. Why? Because he was forgiven. And why was he forgiven? Because he owned up, he said, ““Aval asheimim anachnu”, “We were guilty.” He said, (in words we say at Selichos), “Ma-nidaber uma-nitz’tadak” – “What more can we say to justify ourselves?”. He said, “haelokim matza et-ha’avon avadecha”, “God has discovered, uncovered our guilt.”
What’s more, he changed: From the person who sold his brother as a slave, he became the person who was willing to spend the rest of his life as a slave so that his brother Benjamin could go free. He became a Ba’al Teshuvah. Joseph, his brother, forgave him. God forgave him, and it is his name we bear..."
As Rosh Hashanah approaches, and we ask G-d for forgiveness for our own failures, mistakes and sins, it is worth us also taking a moment to think; How fast are we to judge others? How quickly do we write others off? Do we try to put ourselves "in their shoes"? Do we allow others to repent? Do we have it within ourselves to be forgiving? Do we give them a second chance, as we would want for ourselves?
Selichot, and the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, show us that we can all come back home.

This week my son Levi started his first day at Gan. He will be spending time with other children and some very talented Morah's, getting a great Jewish education. As every parent knows, there is a lot of emotion and preparation, as we got ourselves and Levi ready, for this new milestone in his life.
There are many times in our life where we eagerly anticipate an upcoming occasion. A bride and groom before their wedding, a parent before their newborn child arrives, the girl or boy going to school for the first day, or your first job interview. For each of these occasions, we prepare as best as we can in the appropriate way needed for that specific occasion, ensuring that when the big day arrives we are fully present.
Tomorrow is Rosh Chodesh Elul, the first day of the new month of Elul. This is the final month in the Jewish year, and it is the time for each of us to prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
We do so by auditing our spiritual accounts and assessing the year gone by; by repenting the failings of the past and resolving for the future, and by increasing our Torah study, prayer and giving charity.
Elul is the opportune time for all this because it is a month in which G‑d relates to us in a more open and compassionate manner than He does in the other months of the year. Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi taught the following metaphor:
The king's usual place is in the capital city, in the royal palace. Anyone wishing to approach the king must go through the appropriate channels in the palace bureaucracy and gain the approval of a succession of secretaries and ministers. He must journey to the capital and pass through the many gates, corridors and antechambers that lead to the throne room. His presentation must be meticulously prepared, and he must adhere to an exacting code of dress, speech and mannerism upon entering into the royal presence.
However, there are times when the king comes out to the fields outside the city. At such times, anyone can approach him; the king receives them all with a smiling face and a radiant countenance. The peasant behind his plow has access to the king in a manner unavailable to the highest ranking minister in the royal court when the king is in the palace.
The month of Elul is when the king is in the field. During the special days of this month, each one of us, no matter our background, level of education, observance, or social status, have unfettered access and equal opportunity to approach the King - Al-mighty G-d.
If you knew you would soon be meeting G-d, how would you prepare? What would you want to say?

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins at sundown on Monday evening, September 6 and ends at nightfall, Wednesday, September 8. Dip the apple in honey, hear the Shofar, and take in the awesomeness of the day.

As we prepare for this holiday I'm thinking about a teaching of the Rebbe who said that Rosh Hashanah is the time of the year when we are reminded how one person can improve the whole world.
On Rosh Hashanah, we celebrate the creation of Man, which took place five days after the Universe began. The human being was created different from all other species. Only the human being was created single, a unique individual who can and must bring the rest of creation to its fulfillment.
This is the foundation of our faith; the belief that each one of us has it in his or her power, regardless of wealth or position, to turn the world into a better place, a force for good rather than evil.
Each individual has the ability to produce this kind of harmony, thus following the Will of the Creator.
Each year, when we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, we are reminded of our ability. Each year, Rosh Hashanah gives us a resurgence of the strength needed to fulfill these goals. This is a time for rejuvenation and commitment. A time to clarify our sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Not just now, but forever. L'shana tova. 

Why is this year different than all other years?
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Sounds a bit like Passover… but it's actually already Rosh Hashanah and we are still grappling with the realities of Coronavirus.

And as we deal with these new realities, some of us may be celebrating the holiday and participating in socially distanced services, while others may even be praying alone.

This reminded me of Chanah, who Scripture tells us also prayed alone, while standing distant from others. In fact, her prayer has inspired the prayers of Jews throughout the generations and is read at the Rosh Hashanah service each year.
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On its face, there doesn't seem to be anything too remarkable about what she did. She was pained by her childlessness, and went to the Holy Site to pray.

But in reality, by her actions that day, Chanah displayed the true power of Jewish prayer; she sought to alter not only the physics of nature, but the very nature of theology itself.
To Chanah, a sincere prayer would have the power to break down boundaries. Any boundaries.

So she didn't just ask for a child, she also asked that he be righteous. There goes the limitations and restrictions of nature, asking that a barren woman give birth, and there goes the fundamental principle of free choice, asking that the child be truly righteous.

This is why her prayer is the best blueprint for our prayers and why it plays such an important role in the Rosh Hashanah service. It tells us that nothing is beyond our reach, if we only try hard enough and reach out to G-d with sincerity.

No matter how bleak the odds may seem or how distant that goal, we have the ability to reach it and excel.

So regardless of where you pray this Rosh Hashanah, whether alone at home, or in a socially distanced service, let us each pray for a good year, a year of good health for ourselves, our friends, our city, state and country, and indeed all of humanity.
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Mussie joins me in wishing you all a wonderful Rosh Hashanah! May our homes very soon overflow with friends again. May our year overflow with success and accomplishments. May our hearts overflow with happiness. And may we all be inscribed for a good, healthy, and sweet new year.

This coming week, Jews in South Dakota, Israel and around the world will be celebrating the Jewish New Year known as “Rosh Hashanah.” The holiday begins at sundown on Sept. 20 and ends after nightfall on Friday, Sept. 22.
We observe this day by hearing the sounding of the Shofar (a special ram’s horn crafted for this purpose), praying in Synagogue, dipping an apple in honey and other rituals.
The Jewish Holidays commemorate significant occurrences in Jewish history. Passover, the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Shavuot, the revelation at Mt. Sinai. Sukkot, G-ds protection of the Israelites during their forty year journey through the desert. Yom Kippur, the day of atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf.
Rosh Hashana is different.
The great Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, noted that Rosh Hashanah is in fact relevant and meaningful for all of humanity. It commemorates creation. More specifically, it is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve – the first human beings – as recorded in the Bible.
Like Adam and Eve, who were formed and created by God himself, every human being, of all races and creeds, is created in his image, with a unique purpose that only he or she can fulfill. The shared goal of humanity is to transform this world into a place of goodness and kindness, thereby revealing the inherent divinity within it.
Humans are granted free choice and doing the right thing is not a given. Bringing the world to perfection depends on the choices we each make every day.
Imagine waking in the morning and recognizing that today is a new miracle. We were once again granted the gift of life and as our thanks to God, we chose to make this world even better than it was yesterday. A new day brings new opportunities for good.
By unleashing our potential, we have the power to transform the world. Affix a charity box at your home or office and give a few coins each day for those in need. Add an extra dollar to your employees’ paychecks and encourage them to get involved in charitable acts. Treat others with respect. Show more consideration for your family, friends and neighbors.
One person at a time. One good deed at a time. One good choice at a time.
Rosh Hashanah is the day God judges not only the Jewish people, but all mankind, and indeed all of his creations. As I pray this year and blow the Shofar, all my fellow citizens across the great state of South Dakota will be in my thoughts, to be inscribed and sealed in the book of life for a year of health, happiness, peace and prosperity.