ED: The following is a excerpt from the story, “Rabbis Share Sneak Previews of Holy Days Messages” which ran in our Rosh Hashanah Sept. 7 issue.
Rabbi Gabriel Botnick
Mishkon Tephilo
This past year has been one of turmoil, leaving many of us with a feeling of loss or dismay in the face of a seemingly bleak future: families fractured almost beyond the point of reconciliation; couples questioning the morality of bringing a child into the current, uncertain climate; and people frankly terrified by what the future holds in store. In the face of such pain and brokenness, the one thing we need now more than ever is hope.
No figure conveys a sense of hope to me more than the biblical Hannah, who understood that the blessing of a child lies not in its mere physical existence but in the act of nurturing and inspiring that child, so it can lead and inspire a future generation. She knew this so well that if God were willing to bless her with a child of her own, she in turn was willing to hand that child over to the service of God at a tender age. It is imperative for us to understand that despite whatever crises we face, we are surrounded by hope, in the form of the next generation. No matter how a child finds its way into our lives, if we guide that child from a place of love and a commitment to justice, then we are paving the way toward a future we all can embrace — one that is filled with hope and promise.
