For those of us who grew up in the Jewish community, the High Holy Days are synonymous with long ritual services at the local synagogue and large meals with friends a family. But really, the days in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are arguably more important than the services themselves. Judaism, as I often try to convey, doesn't happen in the sanctuaries of our temples or the libraries of our scholars. None of the lessons of the Torah mean anything if we do not actively incorporate them into our lives.
The Days of Awe, the most holy time in the Jewish faith, includes not only the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but also the eight intervening days between them. In addition to the rituals we practice as a community during the holidays, Jews have much more personal responsibilities in the week between them.
On Rosh Hashanah, there is a phrase in our liturgy that describes the "book of life" where our names are inscribed by the hand of God for the coming year. One might interpret this (and I would say incorrectly) as a metaphor for fate. As with everything in the Torah, this symbol is not meant to be so strange and esoteric. We describe the book of life specifically so we will ponder the gravity of having seen another year pass and standing at the beginning of a new one. Rosh Hashanah literally translates as "The head of the year", the simultaneous conclusion of a full cycle and the start of the next. We are meant to review the year that has passed so that we may prepare ourselves for the year yet to come.
It is impossible to live without regrets. Rosh Hashanah, at its best, gives us the opportunity to seek out some kind of internal resolution of the mistakes and losses of the year. It is also a chance to reflect on all of the good things that have come to pass in that time. As we stand at the beginning of a completely fresh stretch of time, arbitrary as that is, we have all of creation before us. It contains yet more mistakes and yet more triumphs. In the coming year, we will lose and we will gain. The purpose of Rosh Hashanah is turn our minds to the future so that we may handle our losses gracefully and cultivate our triumphs to the greatest degree.
So, in these Days of Awe, contemplate the year that has gone by, but do not forget to place your whole self in the year to come. Begin breaking bad habits, cultivate stronger, more honest relationships and do not accept anything less than the best of your own happiness and well-being. This life is yours to do with what you will. In Jewish philosophy, it is not God's responsibility to make you good or successful or happy. L'Shanah Tovah this Rosh Hashanah. I wish you all good meditation and much growth in the Days of Awe.