Rosh Hashanah-2014

So tomorrow we mark another Jewish New Year filled with the promise of sweetness, the Book of Life and all the hopes and dreams that are part of the Days of Awe.  In the past I loved Rosh Hashanah!  The challah baking, brisket, soup with matzo balls and apple strudel were all my way of welcoming in the freshness of a new start--it was always my way of showing my loved ones that I value them above all others in my life.

This year, though, dear friends will grace our table and none of our children will be home. We just bought a new dining table and I will be keenly aware of those dear family members who are not seated--my sweet uncle who passed away in March, and my mother, who is not able to leave the nursing home for our celebrations any more. We will share the special foods and blessings that mark the holiday.  We will light candles and be especially grateful for loved ones who are not blood relatives but who are our family, nonetheless.

Each passing year brings changes to our lives--some of those are easier than others.  The Days of Awe are meant to help us assess our strengths, weaknesses and the changes we must make in ourselves to be the best version we can muster.  This year is no different, but for some reason the passage of time and the changes that have occurred this year are harder for me.  I still revel in the baking and the cooking and the enjoyment that comes from sharing a holiday with such good people, but I need to work on the hopefulness that Rosh Hashanah usually brought me. May we all be inscribed for another year in the Book of Life and may we learn acceptance of the inevitable changes that mark our lives and face those changes with grace.