by Rabbi Avi Weiss
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are that of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Union for Traditional Judaism, unless otherwise indicated.
Rabbi Avi Weiss asked us to share this 5786 high holiday message the UTJ community and we are honored to do so.
With war raging in Gaza and in Ukraine, and with America facing deep dangerous division, the Rosh Hashanah greeting of “Shanah tovah,” or “Have a happy new year,” seems out of sync with reality. Is there any more suitable formula that we can adopt that would help us navigate these tumultuous times?
A good start may be to recognize that “Shanah tovah” does not mean “Have a happy year,” but “Have a good year.” And truth be told, not everything that is happy is good, and not everything that is good is happy. …
The full article can be viewed at https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/for-a-good-new-year-start-with-gratitude/
Enjoying UTJ Viewpoints?
UTJ relies on your support to promote an open-minded approach to Torah rooted in classical sources and informed by modern scholarship. Please consider making a generous donation to support our efforts.