Apples and honey for Shana Tova 5799

Where do we want to take our lives in the next year?

By Student Rabbi Aaron Rozovsky

Shalom L’Kulam, Shalom to all!

I hope this finds you well. I would like to begin by thanking you for the incredible kindness you have shown me during my first two visits here. Whether it was having me stay with you during the Diesel Extravaganza because all the hotels were booked, driving me around town and showing me the local sights, taking me out to breakfast, lunch and dinner, or having me for over for a delicious home-cooked meal, you have made me feel very welcome. For that I am extremely grateful.

As we are in the month of Elul, we are blessed to be given a time and space in which we reflect on this past year. What happened this past year? What was great in our lives? What were the trying moments? Where do we want to take our lives in the next year? Who did we help? Who did we hurt? What do we want to do again? What do we never want to repeat? Where do we go from here?

Before learning about Elul, I was confused by Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. How could we possibly take stock and ponder such incredible, titanic questions in such a short amount of time? But the truth is that this sacred month, replete with Selichot (“forgiveness”) services and the daily sounding of the Shofar, allows us to face these hard questions of self directly so that when Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur arrive, we can stand before ourselves and G-d and truly know where we have been and where we want to go.

Again, my sincerest thanks for the support and hospitality you have shown me, and I look forward to seeing you this coming weekend.

Aaron

Student Rabbi Aaron Rozovsky will serve UHC Terre Haute throughout the 2016-17 academic year.

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