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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