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September 10, 1999/29 Elul 5759, Vol. 52, No. 1
In the balanceEditorialDuring the 10 days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, our lives are in the balance: Who shall live and who shall die, who shall be inscribed in the Book of Life and who shall not.The sound of the shofar (ram's horn) and the stirring words of the High Holiday liturgy call us to weigh the worthiness of our days and to take their measure. An essential question of the season is not if we will be granted more days, but what will we do with them. In a convergence of the heavenly and the divine, the month of Tishri, in which Rosh Hashana falls, appears in the Zodiac under the sign of Libra. How better to symbolize the season's arduous self-examination than with Libra's scales? How better to reflect on the value of seeking balance in our complex, harried lives than by looking skyward? But during the Days of Awe, we are moved not only to look up, but within. Weighing ourselves, we assess our actions and behaviors during the past year. What are our faults and deficiencies? Where have we been mistaken or acted in error? How can we make amends and change our ways? We look also at the intricate patterns of our relationships with others. Have we reached out lovingly to our spouses and partners, nurtured our children, made time for our friends, supported our parents? Have we treated others with kindness and compassion? Have we acted with tolerance and understanding? Have we pursued mutuality and respect? Have we sought to achieve equilibrium and tranquillity in our personal lives? As we contemplate ourselves and our place in the universe, we need to ask if we have allowed the drive toward achieving harmony to infuse us. We are reminded on Rosh Hashana of the intrinsic beauty and balance of God's creation, and of the human potential to realize beauty and balance within our daily existence. We consider whether we've made a conscious effort in the past year to achieve this and vow to do so in the future. We wish that the coming year will be one of worthy days, each full of life, savored measure for measure. |
