A road map to new year

Dear Families,
There is so much to do and think about to get ready for the High Holidays — that is why we have the month of Elul to prepare.
One of my “jobs” at the J is to blow the shofar each morning. I’m not an official “shofar blower” but I can do a pretty good tekiah gadola. By blowing the shofar each morning in the J lobby and the Early Childhood Center, we are reminding all who come in that it is time to get ready to make changes in our lives.
Time to share a website: jewbelong.com. Check it out to see the Kick-Ass Rosh Hashanah Personal Roadmap and the Rosh Haggadah (a Haggadah for Rosh Hashanah). Here are a few quotes from the road map to inspire for the new year:

  • You are never too old to become younger. — Mae West
  • In some families, “please” is described as the magic word. In our house, however, it was “sorry.” — Margaret Laurence
  • Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts. — Daniel Patrick Moynihan
  • Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors and let each New Year find you a better man. — Benjamin Franklin

Now that you are thinking (and hopefully talking with your family and friends), here are other names for the holidays — talk about what makes each a good name:

  • Yom HaDin: “Day of Judgment” (talk about being judged!)
  • Yom HaZikaron: “Day of Remembrance”
  • Yom Teruah: “Day of Sounding the Shofar”

And here are three High Holiday greetings — start practicing. Saying “Happy New Year” is good but these are even better!!

  • Shanah Tovah: This means “a good year”
  • Shanah Tovah U’mitukah: a greeting that means “a good and sweet year”
  • Shanah Tovah Tikatayvu: This means “may you be inscribed for a good year”

That’s all the readiness for this week — there are so many thoughts and ideas plus wonderful traditions. Come up with a new tradition for your family this year — how can you make this new year special and continue building on it each year?
Shalom … from the Shabbat Lady.
Laura Seymour is director of Camping Services at the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center.

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