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May the coming year be filled
with health, happiness and prosperity
for all our family and friends.

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PORTION

Closer To God

Rosh Hashanah: Genesis 21:1-34,
Numbers 29:1-6; I Samuel 1:1-2:10.

Melissa, Kenny
Spencer & Carson Litvin

May the coming year be filled
with health, happiness and prosperity
for all our family and friends.

Judy, Harold, Nicole
Jessica & Allison Etkin

May the coming year be filled with
health and happiness for all our family and friends.
L'Shanah Tovah!

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32 sept.‘•.:,:•:

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t the New Year, it seems as
forming chaos into the created world
though every word, every
that we enjoy today. From light, to
moment of the High Holy
solid ground, to plants, animals and,
Day service is a climax. Hearing those
finally, humanity, we not only honor
haunting melodies and special prayers the God-given gift that is our envi-
that we only pray once a year trans-
ronment, but also that God saw His
ports the mind and soul to
creation and especially the
a place that seems closer to
creation of human being as
God; almost as though we
toy me'od, very good.
are returning to an intimate
At the beginning of the
conversation with God that
year, we must remember
we resume at the time a
that we must live in such a
new year begins.
way that makes us worthy
Without a doubt, the
of God's designating our
Torah portions that are
creation as toy me'od.
chanted on Rosh Hashanah
But why is the story of
are matched perfectly to the
Hannah
read? The first
Jen nifer
themes and messages of
book
of
Samuel
is the hafto-
Kal uzny
the holiday. Abraham and
rah
portion
read
on Rosh
Specia I to the
Sarah's welcoming Isaac
Hashanah.
Why
do
we read
J ew is h News
into their lives after wait-
about a barren woman who
ing so very long for a child
is taunted by her rival wife
intones the themes of yom ha'ra'at
and then prays a simple prayer to God?
ha'olam, the birthday of the world.
The answer to this question is why
New life is created and with it, oppor-
I love the story of Hannah so much.
tunity, challenges, and hope.
Hannah approached God with a broken
It is a reminder for us that in the
heart and with genuine emotions. She
year just past, we might have missed
longed for a child and so she went to
golden opportunities, or faced seem-
God — not to rail against God in anger
ingly insurmountable challenges, but a for withholding a son, or to complain
new year is just beginning and with it
about her rival wife mocking her for
comes the gift of hope.
being childless. Hannah went before
Then, not long after the celebration
God with simple words and a request
of Isaac's miraculous birth, comes the
that occupied her entire being.
heart wrenching story of the akeidah,
Hannah's story does not come to
the binding of Isaac. It is a story of the
teach us that every request we make of
ultimate test of faith; could a father, who God will be answered, but rather that
waited so long for a son that was prom-
we can approach God with anything,
ised to him, sacrifice him to the God
and with simple words. We do not
that he heard, heeded and followed? The have to be liturgists or poets to be able
God that promised him this very child?
to speak to God. We do not have to be
Abraham proves his unshakeable
Torah scholars or masters of Jewish
faith in God by nearly going through
law to open the lines of communica-
with God's request. The story of the
tion with the One who made us in His
akeidah reminds us that this new year image. God is listening to our voices.
is a time when we too must have faith
What does our High Holy Day liturgy
that God is our partner, guiding us,
tell us? God is waiting for us to return to
watching over us and caring for us.
Him, and will wait until the last second,
In return, we must demonstrate our until we choose to return. God is wait-
faith in that guiding force, and praise
ing for us. The line is open. All we need
the One who has compassion on us
to do is speak what is in our hearts,
and shows us mercy. Though we may
however it comes out of our mouths.
struggle from time to time in our rela-
Or, if you choose to do as Hannah
tionship with God, Abraham reminds
did, you do not even have to speak.
us to always return to God in faith.
Just move your lips, or speak through
At Temple Israel, we read the story
your soul. God will hear either way.
of creation. It too is a celebration of
As you listen to the Torah and
yom ha'ra'at ha'olam, the birthday of
Haftorah portions this year, remember
the world. We marvel at God trans-
all of the themes and messages they are