Thursday, December 31, 2020

Should We Say Shanah Tovah?


Is there anything Jewish about New Year’s on January 1?  Our initial reaction is no.  We have our New Year’s on Rosh Hashanah.  At the same time, there are a few ways that January 1 can relate to us as Jews. 

Novy God is the Russian phrase for "New Year" and also refers to the Russian celebration of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.  There were no religious holidays recognized under Communism, so Novy God was the only national festive day Russians celebrated that wasn’t about the Revolution.  It was a day off and an opportunity to relax with family and have too much to eat and drink.

What’s Jewish about this?  (Besides the eating and drinking…馃槉)

Matti Friedman, noted Israeli author, recently addressed the impact that Soviet immigration has had on Israel 30 years later.  He writes:
 

Much about the cultural trajectory of the Russian aliyah in Israel - from nowhere, to the margins, toward the center - is contained in a story about Santa hats and mayonnaise.  This is the saga of Novy God, a New Year’s celebration beloved in the Russian-speaking world but unknown to the general public here until a few years ago.  “We didn’t have the 17,000 holidays that Israelis have,” as Alex Rif put it. “We celebrated birthdays and Novy God.”  For years, Novy God was celebrated behind closed doors.  This was in part because it involves not only optional Santa hats but a mandatory evergreen which looks, to Jewish eyes, suspiciously like a Christmas tree.

In the last several years, Novy God has started to get a higher profile in Israel as Soviet Jews (or their children) celebrate it as a sign of their cultural identity even as they have become Israeli.

What about those of us not in Israel?  Anything Jewish about New Year’s?

There are a number of Chasidic anecdotes that play up the significance of January 1.  It is said that Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev would wish people a happy new year on January 1.  Likewise, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, once wished a Chassid a happy new year on January 1.  The Rebbe told his surprised follower that he was following the tradition of Rebbe Levi Yitzchak.  Another Chasidic master, the Ba’al Ha-Yeshuos, would bless people with a good year.  He would lightheartedly add that when God contrasts the non-Jewish celebration of New Year’s with the Jewish commitment to Rosh Hashanah, it would bring us extra merit.

My understanding of the Chasidic acknowledgement of January 1 as noteworthy and even spiritually significant is that the date has come to represent moving forward. 

There is nothing more Jewish than taking advantage of opportunities to acknowledge and encourage progress.  Especially during a time when we have been faced with so many challenges, we need to celebrate every chance we have to declare that we’re still standing and committed to moving forward.

So, remember to write 2021 on those checks (for those who still write checks), maybe try some of those Russian Novy God delicacies (they often involve salted fish, borscht, and mayonnaise), and, above all, let’s wish each other “Shanah Tovah!” for the opportunity to keep moving forward. 

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Moving Day & Enlistment Day

Let’s just say Wednesday was busy.

 


Lots of boxes and Meira’s legs in uniform

On the Upper East Side of Manhattan, we (actually movers) moved out of our apartment of 14 years.  After 17 years in New York City, we’re en route to Atlantic Beach.

 

Across the Atlantic, our oldest, Meira, enlisted in the IDF. 

 

Both events are full of anxiety, pride, and excitement tinged with sadness. Saying farewell to a familiar place and a community we love.  Recognizing that our child is all grown up and now a solider defending the Jewish Homeland. 

 

This is an appropriate week for journey and facing unknown, new realities.  I think I can say that I have a taste of what Yaakov felt as he leads the Children of Israel to Egypt.

 

Yaakov also had to pack all his possessions.  He had wagons and not trucks, but I imagine there was similar chaos and emotion involved in the move.  That’s why God reassured Yaakov (Bereishit 46:3-4):

 

讜ַ讬ֹּ讗诪ֶ专 讗ָ谞ֹ讻ִ讬 讛ָ讗ֵ-诇 讗ֱ-诇ֹ讛ֵ讬 讗ָ讘ִ讬讱ָ 讗ַ诇־转ִּ讬专ָ讗 诪ֵ专ְ讚ָ讛 诪ִ爪ְ专ַ讬ְ诪ָ讛 讻ִּ讬־诇ְ讙讜ֹ讬 讙ָּ讚讜ֹ诇 讗ֲ砖ִׂ讬诪ְ讱ָ 砖ָׁ诐׃ 讗ָ谞ֹ讻ִ讬 讗ֵ专ֵ讚 注ִ诪ְּ讱ָ 诪ִ爪ְ专ַ讬ְ诪ָ讛 讜ְ讗ָ谞ֹ讻ִ讬 讗ַ注ַ诇ְ讱ָ 讙ַ诐־注ָ诇ֹ讛...

 

And God said, “I am God, the God of your father. Fear not to go down to Egypt, for I will make you there into a great nation. I Myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I Myself will bring you back…”

 

A family move or a personal milestone does not compare with the national journey of the Jewish people.  At the same time, I am bolstered by the idea that God is along for the ride.  Our momentous experiences are important to us.  They are also sacred.  Wherever we go and whatever we do, God’s message to Yaakov can steady our nerves as we encounter change and a new reality.

 

Al tirah – Don’t fear!  It is hard not to be afraid at all, but it helps to know that we all undertake new journeys in the footsteps of all those who came before us.

 


Friday, December 18, 2020

Making Chanukah Last

 

 

There is something beautiful about the last night of Chanukah.  All the candles are lit.  It feels like the Festival of Light has reached its potential.  The full menorahs challenge us to strive to reach ours.

In Chasidic thought, there is the idea of “Zot Chanukah – Zot v’od acheret.”  This has been Chanukah, but there is more of to come.  As Chanukah ends, there is a directive that all that we celebrated for the past 8 days continue in some form beyond the holiday.

Chanukah must make an impression. 

Snow angel I made yesterday in Central Park

As Chanukah concludes, we hold fast to the memories.  At the same time, Chanukah should change us.

The Chasidic master Rebbe Shlomo of Karlin (1740-1792) had a personal custom to light with wax candles on Chanukah.  He felt that when the wax drips and the liquid hardens, an imprint is made that lasts well beyond the eight days of Chanukah, whereas oil simply burns and nothing of it remains.  Wax candles symbolize the lesson that Chanukah must make a lasting impression on the soul.

One year he was unable to acquire the wax candles, and he used oil instead.  It happened that, one night, the menorah tipped over, and a small fire started that was quickly extinguished.  It did, however, leave a dark burn mark on the wall.  Reb Shlomo was actually pleased with this development since, once again, Chanukah had left its mark.

How will this Chanukah leave its mark on us?  What did we learn?  Which additional insight will shed light on the coming months?  Which gift we gave or got will remind us to be kind, to be attentive, or to be more supportive of others?

Chanukah is ending.  How will the light shine on?