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TORAH PORTION

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Celebrating
The New Year

Shabbat Bo: Exodus 10:1-13:16;
Jeremiah 46:13-28.

S

ince this is my first Torah
the English (or Gregorian — named
column of 2008, I'd like to
after Pope Gregory XIII) date, or of
take this opportunity to wish the Jewish calendar? What day is it
you all a happy new year! I'd like to,
today? Is it Friday or Saturday, or is it
but I can't — not because I don't want Shabbat? Sure, the descriptions refer
you to be happy, but because it isn't
to the same day; but each point of
the new year. We ushered in the real
reference impacts greatly on how we
new year about four months ago, at
lead our lives. For if it's Friday night,
Rosh Hashanah.
after we have dinner, we'll go out to a
I know; I know. "Rabbi, can't you
movie. But if it's Shabbat evening, then
relax just a little? What's wrong with
we'll light the candles, enjoy a festive
celebrating the new year?" O.K. —
meal with Kiddush and challah, and
"Happy new year!" There,
sit down afterwards to play
I said it. But I am trying to
a game or review the weekly
make a larger point about
parshah. Same day — but a
the way that we perceive
world of difference.
time and how that percep-
God's first command-
tion affects our lives.
ment to us — His people
In Bo, God issues the
— revolves around our
first mitzvah to the Jewish
perception of time: "This
people. 'And the Lord
month shall be to you."
spoke to Moses and Aaron
We must make time our
in the land of Egypt, say-
own. We rise and fall along
Rabbi Reuven
ing: 'This month shall be
the Jewish rhythm of the
Spolter
to you the beginning of
year. Jews begin our year
Special to the.
months; it shall be the first
with the solemnity of the
Jewish News
month of the year to you."
High Holidays that lead into
(Shemot, 12:1-2) That's it?
the relaxed joy of Sukkot.
That's the first commandment for the
We bask in the light of Chanukah
Jewish people? In a word, yes.
and yearn for the redemptive spirit of
Before the Jewish people can ever
Purim and Pesach — and the inde-
pendence of Israel.
We rejoice in receiving the Torah at
"That mental shift begins
Shavuot, and mourn Jewish suffering
with their — and our
during the summer months, which
lead us back again to contemplation
— perception of time."
and redemption.
That is our rhythm. That is the
achieve physical freedom from their
Jewish calendar.
Egyptian masters, they must first
And for that reason, I'll wait until
acquire spiritual, emotional freedom.
Rosh Hashanah to wish each of you
They must free themselves from the
not a happy — but a good, sweet
shackles of Egyptian society, culture
Jewish new year. ❑
and thinking. As long as they continue
to think like Egyptians, they will
Reuven Spolter is rabbi of Young Israel
always consider themselves slaves —
of Oak Park.
for that's exactly how the Egyptians
perceive them. But when they begin to
think like Jews, they can envision their
Conversations
own freedom and take the first step
What are the milestones of your
towards making that dream a reality.
year? What are some ways of
That mental shift begins with their
adding Jewish milestones dur-
— and our — perception of time.
ing the week, month or year to
Ask yourself the following question:
make your time more "Jewish"?
what's today's date? Did you think of

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January 10 • 2008

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