I think the often-printed picture of Father Time at the end of the year is grossly inaccurate. Many cartoonists show Father Time as an old, grumpy man, exhausted by the trials of the past year, ready to lie down and give up. I suggest that the times of our lives are a process year after year, a journey from infancy through adulthood and then on through old age.

It is very true that for some of us, 5769 has been a difficult year often punctuated with personal problems both physical and mental and I am very sympathetic with anyone who has had such a year. On the other hand, some of us have had a sensational year where many good things were accomplished. And, of course, there is a whole group of people who have simply marked time this past year, maybe waiting for a situation to improve.

I do not see each year as an absolute beginning. Rather, I see it as a continuation of the previous year. The trick in Judaism is to recognize what we’ve done during 5769 and what can be improved in 5770. Can we adjust portions of our lives to be more tolerant or more charitable? Can we make more time to be active in the congregation? Can we be more helpful to our spouses and families? Can we work harder to make a positive difference?

The sound of the Shofar reaches all ears, young and old. It is a call to awaken us out of our current life pattern in order to make positive changes. Now is the time to make that life promise. Now is the time to thank G-d for all we have done and to make those life changes to be a better person. I am very confident that if we put our minds to the task, we can all make improvements.

I want to wish everyone a healthy, a happy, and a prosperous New Year and may G-d bless everyone with peace in 5770.

L'Shana Tovah
Rabbi Rubovits