Apples To Fasting To Shmita: Days of Awe

 

Shanah tovah u'metukah (Or in English "a good and sweet year") 

This week started with Rosh Hashanah a Jewish celebration. Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection, reflection and making resolutions. It culminates in the Yom Kippur holiday, also known as the Day of Atonement.

The Days of Awe are basically the time when God figures out everyone's report cards. Some are easy for god to determine, like for the righteous and the really wicked, for some there is more wiggle room. For those in the wiggle room group, we have 10 days to talk to God our professor about what we know we have done well, and where we have individually or communally fell short this past year. 

Basically 10 days of office hours where we reflect with God, repent, and try to be more righteous. These office hours can impact if the God's grades inscribed in the book of life end up sealed in the book or edited before being summited as final grades to the university. (Note this is my own interpretation of the story of the Days of Awe if you want a different one ask a Rabbi) 

If you are interested is worship there are a wide range of services that are available for all the Days of Awe on YouTube which you can access whenever you want. (And it really is fine if you are a few days late, pretty sure the universe or god or what ever you want to call it understands that time is wibbly wobbly :) ) 

And for those of us who like the idea of being non-traditional try Rabbi Alex Kress's Hip Hop/Rap inspired RAP-ENTANCE: SIDE A: Rosh HaShanah or RAP-ENTANCE: SIDE B: Yom Kippur which include hip hop music and some reflection questions around some of the key themes of this period on the Jewish calendar. 

While this is always an extended period of time for introspection this year takes on an extra level because this year is Shmita, the “year of release,” In the Shmita year, debts are to be forgiven, agricultural lands to lie fallow, private land holdings to become open to the commons, and staples such as food storage and perennial harvests to be freely redistributed and accessible to all. 

Many are taking this upcoming Shmita year as a time to focus on the earth and the impact of global climate change on both a individual and community wide level. Others are focusing on the rest part of the year and figuring out ways to incorporate regular rest into their schedules. There is no one right way to celebrate Shmita is is more just setting aside time to be present and aware.

May you have a sweet new year and be inscribed in the book of life.