36 | SEPTEMBER 22 • 2022
W
e prepare to wel-
come 5783, in
Jewish tradition,
yom harat olam — the birth-
day of the world — with hope
mixed with sadness. Actually,
we know that
the world is far
older than 5783
years, but there
are many, myself
included, who
consider Rosh
Hashanah the
anniversary of
the creation of humanity.
This year brings with it
profound challenges to the
assumptions we have made
about the safety and security
of our world. Climate change,
violence and extreme political
unrest are just a few of the
factors that make this a year of
uneasiness.
For me, personally, the time
of Rosh Hashanah also brings
back memories of tragedy and
resolve, for it was at precisely
this time in 1975, on the eve of
selichot, that my baby brother
Michael died by suicide at the
age of 21. Since that night, for
almost 50 years now, it has
been part of my life’s mission to
save young people and adults
from suicide.
How remarkable it is that
this September is Suicide
Prevention Month in America.
Thus, Rosh Hashanah is joined
with efforts to ease the pain
and despair of those who live
without hope.
I am grateful that in our
Detroit community, as never
before in my memory, pro-
grams are now in place to
reach out to parents and chil-
dren who need us badly. I am
especially proud of the work
undertaken by Jewish Family
Service in suicide prevention.
JFS has given me the opportu-
nity to join with others in sav-
ing young lives, and the suicide
prevention trainings of JFS will
resume post-COVID later this
fall.
I am grateful to Jackie
Headapohl, editorial director of
the Jewish News, for the paper’s
unswerving support of these
lifesaving efforts, and wish her
and her family good health and
much love in the years to come.
I know that this piece is a bit
unusual for the Jewish News,
but we live in unusual times.
This Rosh Hashanah gives us
the opportunity to join with
our loved ones in common
resolve to make 5783 a true
birthday of hope and family, of
kindness and joy and life.
As we light the holiday
candles, illuminating the dark-
ness, and as we dip apples into
honey, wishing one another a
sweet new year, may we do so
with the confidence that we
can indeed make our world
better as a result of our actions
and aspirations.
Rabbi Daniel B. Syme is rabbi emeritus
at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield
Township.
Rabbi
Daniel Syme
A Sweet New Year
ROSH HASHANAH
continued from page 34
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