Happy and healthy 5772

Being Jewish and having a birthday at the end of September means that from time to time my birthday is going to coincide with Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, the Jewish High Holy Days. When I was a kid, I used to hate that. I resented it bigtime. You would have, too. Whaddya mean I have to spend all (or even part) of my birthday in the synagogue? How unfair is that? C'mon, isn't there some talmudic dictum exempting birthday boys from having to do that? I've been good!

This year, though, I welcomed the serendipity of dates. It forced me to take time out to reflect. As an adult, I've come to appreciate how the rituals and traditions made elegant sense. The blowing of the shofar (ram's horn) is a not-too-subtle call to stop what you're doing and pay attention -- and also a macabre reminder that somewhere, a poor ram had a really, really bad day, just so you could watch a body part of his used as a wind instrument.

During Rosh Hashanah last week, I heard a woman recount the details of what for her had clearly been a truly awful year, what Queen Elizabeth II once termed an annus horribilis. I listened and thought "wow, I guess I had a good year." Upon further reflection, I had to amend that. I had a great year. For me, the Jewish year 5771 was a combination of tremendously good luck and, if I'm going to be brutally honest, the fruition of many years of hard work and dedication. The lesson I draw from that is to be grateful....for all of it.

It's neither trite nor an overstatement to say that there but for the grace of God go all of us. Good health isn't guaranteed, and neither are other successes or even simple happiness. Disasters can (and do) take place without notice or reason. A good year is a gift. Savor it. At the same time, nobody is perfect, and life isn't all apples and honey. I'd love to insist I'm faultless, but lying is a bad idea...and, rabbis remind congregants, a sin. Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement for a reason. For the mistakes I've made, to the people I've wronged, I'm deeply sorry and ask for forgiveness. 

This is the time of year that we hope and pray that we'll be inscribed in the book of life. May you enjoy a sweet, happy and healthy new year.