Tonight begins the celebration of the New Year according to the Jewish calendar. Yes, we celebrate, but we also do a heck of a lot of thinking, mulling, perusal and decision making. Who have we been over the past year? What vows to G-d have we made and not kept? Will we possibly be the same next year, as we were this year - and uh oh, what does that mean with regard to the useless, vain, or empty vows made, or even the earnest, well meant, honest vows that never came to fruition? Where do I stand in this and where does the community in general, for be it a Jewish community or to the mixed bag community of the nations of the world, where do we stand? Where have we walked and where do we plan to walk in the coming year?
Hours of praying. Hours of eating. Hours of mixing with friends and family. Hours of remembering and mourning those lost over the past year. Hours of concern as to our personal future and of those we love. All together in an intermingled state of mind and being. Celebration and contemplation. Joy, fear and awe. Honesty and responsibility. Strict accounting of one's character and deeds. And all the while a chance to reform, repent, apologize, not only via words, but through actual deeds, a change in thoughts and actions.
But mind you - these vows, these plaintive pleas to the Lord to forgive, to understand that we are weak mortals, that we make errors, that we can go astray, that we can vow to be better, mean to be better, and then fail, fall into some pit, cannot make it over an impediment in the path, no matter the good intentions we began with- well, it is not a get out of jail free card. Not at all.
The request to forgive vows unkept are only between the Lord and the person, not the trespasses in the world of man to man. No, for the only one with the power to forgive, not necessarily forget, are the ones who have been offended, hurt, even killed via the other person's egregious behavior. There is a wonderful fact-based novel raising that precise issue, The Sunflower, written by Simon Wiesenthal. A concentration camp inmate, enslaved in a hospital, is asked by a wounded, dying German soldier, to forgive him for his sins, from the small to the large to the infinite.
The decision made is that no, the forgiveness must come from those offended. As the victims were dead, well, certainly, the prisoner cannot speak for them. Read the opinions of others re this decision and what they would have done - though it is indeed most difficult to put oneself in such a nightmare, unreal, yet horrifyingly so, and make that decision.
Over the past year, even for quite a number of years, the community of humanity has trespassed against others in myriad, grievous ways and deeds. From the minor to the major, from the temporary to the permanent, we have transgressed. Moreover, we have not done that perusal of soul in any meaningful way. Simply put, we have not put our money where our mouths are. The result? A world emmeshed in bloody turmoil. A world where feelings of hate are far more widespread and powerfully prevalent than feelings of brotherhood, knowledge of a need for fair, true justice, and a simple understanding that we must do better, be better and can be - if we remember that vows of doing just that are meant to be kept. That not keeping them has consequences, and the only one who can change the situation for the better, even in a small, minuscule manner, is YOU. ME. ALL OF US. No one else has the right to ask for nor expect to receive forgiveness. No one.
"A sham built on lies" is an apt description and evaluation of too many lives today. We lie and lie to support that lie, become caught in a Gordian knot of falsehoods unable to be unraveled without violence. We have indulged ourselves in beliefs and loyalties totally misplaced. The inevitable result is not pleasant. How could it be. The reality of it will not change unless and until we do. Wishing something into or out of existence does not work. Only truth, honor and honesty will - and hard work at reversing one's oh so wrong path. Not easy. The longer the sham continues, the more difficult it will be - to the point of inability, impossibility.
There is guilt by association. Lay down with that mangy dog and you will, perforce, get up with those awful fleas. Forcing others to get the fleas will do naught to alleviate the situation. Just the opposite.
Zelensky has offered newly drafted and veteran soldiers of Russia a stark choice. Refuse to fight or die in the fight. Surrender, refuse to do wrong. Understand that acquiescence in evil is wrong. Obeying the immoral is wrong. A difficult choice, rending the soul, but somewhere, sometime, one must accept responsibility for one's actions, good or bad. The excuse of following orders, or 'they' made me do it - will not fly. We, of this world, are faced with that same stark choice and time is running out. The hourglass empties quickly, double timing.
Between Man and G-d. Between Man and Man. Those are the categories. Those are the differentiations we must make, acknowledge, and reform. We must apply for forgiveness to the proper department lest our application go unheeded. But always, the behavior, the repenting, has to be real. Yet, the Jewish religion acknowledges the frailties of mankind, allowed for intent and straying, acknowledges that we all make errors in life, repeating them even as we know how wrong they are.
Forgive and forget? No, but forgive in the hope of bettering humankind, this earth, this precious planet given to us, that we have mistreated to the point of almost, I hope, no return. The hope for 'almost' is present forever, the eternal hope which springs eternal in the hearts and souls of people.
During this time for atonement, for evaluation, let us be honest with ourselves, admit errors and misjudgments, ask forgiveness where the asking belongs and know the difference between them.
At this time, I apologize to those I might have accidentally or even on purpose, offended. I will try to be better, hope I will, even as I hold out that hope for and of you.
For all, a Happy, Healthy, Sweet, Prosperous New Year, filled with Peace - in your home, in your neighborhood, in your country, and in the world.
Shana Tova Oometuka.
Please note that due to the holidays I will not be posting tomorrow or Tuesday but will, G-d willing, return on Wednesday. In the meanwhile, with the uncertain path of a dangerous storm, be safe, be prepared and take care.
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