Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the High Holy Days, where three heavenly books are opened, and during these next ten days God will inscribe our names and fates for the next year. This is why we will say, “L'Shana Tova; May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year,” to one another.
The following is an interpretation on this belief, written by Edgar M Bronfman in Why Be Jewish. Bronfman then relates this idea back the practice of passing away our past transgressions on Rosh Hashanah;
“I find it highly improbable that the concept of these mysterious books was ever intended to be anything other than a metaphor, perhaps inspired by poetically charged lines in the book of Revelation:
'And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (20:12)'
Still, it is a wonderful image and one that could inspire contemporary practices. As a way of taking stock of our behavior, we might create physical New Year books. Such books could even become part of an ongoing practice of tikkun middot, taking stock of our internal selves…
…We have the ability to change and we are responsible for behaving ethically – not because we will be punished or rewarded, but because it is the right thing to do.”
What Edgar Bronfman loved the most about Judaism was the idea that you could have a pluralistic discussion about text and faith no matter what your background was; and that you could learn with someone from a different walk of life. This is called Chavruta, or, learning in pairs. I invite you to turn to someone across from you – or in a group of three – and discuss any of the following questions together. Or, you can have your own questions.
The following is an interpretation on this belief, written by Edgar M Bronfman in Why Be Jewish. Bronfman then relates this idea back the practice of passing away our past transgressions on Rosh Hashanah;
“I find it highly improbable that the concept of these mysterious books was ever intended to be anything other than a metaphor, perhaps inspired by poetically charged lines in the book of Revelation:
'And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (20:12)'
Still, it is a wonderful image and one that could inspire contemporary practices. As a way of taking stock of our behavior, we might create physical New Year books. Such books could even become part of an ongoing practice of tikkun middot, taking stock of our internal selves…
…We have the ability to change and we are responsible for behaving ethically – not because we will be punished or rewarded, but because it is the right thing to do.”
What Edgar Bronfman loved the most about Judaism was the idea that you could have a pluralistic discussion about text and faith no matter what your background was; and that you could learn with someone from a different walk of life. This is called Chavruta, or, learning in pairs. I invite you to turn to someone across from you – or in a group of three – and discuss any of the following questions together. Or, you can have your own questions.
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In a traditional American Tashlich ceremony, Bread is thrown into a lake or river, where it will be symbolically eaten by fish (our sins will visually be cast away and then eaten, banishing them for good). In Israel, rocks are used. Today, we used seeds to then be eaten by birds. What else could you use to symbolically cast sins away?
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Judaism is a religion of ethics – the Torah consists of guidelines for proper behavior and etiquette. There is an emphasis on how to do certain things, but not a big emphasis on why. What guides you ethically? Why does this guide you ethically?
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During the High Holy Days, there is an emphasis that is placed on community. Jewish people are encouraged to come together as a large congregation to pray together. In public, we repent our past sins and transgressions and ask to begin the next year anew. This is contrary from other practices that have you repent in solitary, or even with Western Society, that places an emphasis on individualism (such as the American Dream; building yourself up from nothing). Why do you believe there is an emphasis on praying in public?
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There is an emphasis on Community in Judaism; there must be a minyan to pray, learning should be at least in a prayer, amongst other practices. As you move away from home, or begin the next year, how do you build community? What do you look for?
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As we enter a new Jewish year, it is a time for introspection and reflection. You can think of it as a new “New Year’s Resolution.” What do you hope to achieve, accomplish, or change?
Take this opportunity to spread and have quiet reflection. Think about the past year and what you would like to change as you go into the new year. This is a time we can cast what we would like to do without. The following list are common sins we find ourselves guilty of.
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Let the poppy seed represent deception. In a Seinfeld episode that aired in 1996, Elaine tested positive for Opium, even though she was drug-free. But because she ate too many poppy seed muffins, the test was a false-positive. For this reason, let poppy seeds represent the sin of deception.
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Let flax seed represent vain ambition. While highly nutritious, flax seeds are a high-maintenance member of the seed family, with a short shelf life. Therefore, we will let flax seeds resemble vain ambition.
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Let the chia seed represent stubbornness. Chia seeds have been recognized by the US in recent years as a super-food, and a rich source for fiber, protein, and antioxidants. However, despite research, chia seeds do not help weight-loss and contain many different omega-fats. This does not stop the chia seed from being considered a healthy food. The chia seed, therefore, represents stubbornness.
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Let the green pea represent envy. A green pea, as its name would suggest, gives a green hue, much like the phrase “green with envy.” Take the envy you may hold, and cast it off in the green pea.
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Let sunflower seeds represent selfishness. Sunflower seeds are nestled within their shells, not letting people see if the seed is a good quality. The sunflower is uncaring of what lays outside its shell, so it shall resemble selfishness.
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Let Pumpkin seeds resemble pride and arrogance. A pumpkin starts small, but can grow to enormous sizes that are too big to carry, much like a person’s pride and arrogance. Cast away the Pumpkin Seed, and let the pride and arrogance leave you as well.