theOPTblog

"May you live in interesting times." Chinese proverb or curse. Sounds Jewish to me.

The world can feel like a chaotic place at times, or hadn't you noticed?

Torrential rains, flooding, oppressive heat, tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquakes ... To quote Dr. Ray Stantz of the Ghostbusters, "What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath of God type stuff!"

And then there's Washington, D.C., the financial markets...sigh... and, of course, our own personal travails of all sorts - illnesses of loved ones, losses, the vulnerabilities and challenges we all face.

An ever present reality of the human condition is that we are often powerless over forces larger and stronger than we are. No one likes to be confronted with feelings of defenselessness and uncertainty.

Whatever anxieties we carry, about things real or imagined, there are comforts, as well. The rhythm of the seasons, the end of summer and the approach of the High Holidays are comforts on which we can rely.

Whatever the challenges of the past year, and whatever the year ahead holds for each of us, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur offer us an opportunity to connect and collectively reflect on our lives. As you prepare yourself for this time emotionally, intellectually and spiritually, rejoice in the knowledge that we do this as a kehillat kedushah, a holy community.

I am grateful that we share this journey together. My family and I wish you and yours L'shanah tovah tikatevu v'taihatem. May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.

Ken y'hi ratzon. May it be God's will.

L'shalom,

Jeff Blaine