Menachem Mirski
Thoughts on Rosh Hashanah 5784
What do we celebrate on Rosh Hashanah? A pretty common answer given to that question is: we celebrate the creation of the world. This answer is generally correct but there is more to it. Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 29:1) tells us that the world was actually created on the 25th of Elul. On Rosh Hashanah human beings were created. The midrash gives us a precise chronology – hour by hour – what happened on that day and a lot happened on that day: God created humans, then – on the same day – they ate the forbidden fruit, thus they sinned, then they were judged, expelled and then they were pardoned. Thus, on Rosh Hashanah we celebrate the creation of human beings with all that comes from it.
The creation of human beings can be understood in two ways: literally – exactly the way the story is told in the Book of Genesis – or figuratively, for example: that human beings/human species at some point of their natural history became ‘human’ – became conscious, responsible and moral living beings, whose lives are not guided only by their natural instincts and needs but also and profoundly by their free will, intellect and spirit.
We celebrate humanity, we celebrate being human. We celebrate the human soul, the spirit that God has breathed into us. That’s part of the essence of what being human is – having a soul. But there is another equally important part: on that day God created two human beings, on that day God created a companion. The Torah says “And when they were created, [God] blessed them and called them Humankind.” (Gen 5:2) Being human means not only having a soul but having a companion – living in the community.
In the times of widespread divisiveness, partisanship, tribalism – we celebrate community, we celebrate being together, we celebrate our connections with other human beings. On Rosh Hashanah we celebrate the essence of humanity. What is more human than looking into the eyes of the person beside us and truly understanding them? What is more human than being heard, than being understood? Thus, I encourage you to connect, to reach out, to anyone you can think of. Not only to apologize and ask for forgiveness, as we are obligated to do during High Holidays, but just to connect, no matter for what reason: to say how are you, to say I miss you, to say I love you, to tell a story or a joke. Even if it’s just a text message – reach out, be human, send your soul. Be human, connect.
Shanah tovah v’Shabbat shalom
Rabbi Menachem Mirski
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