There is a new High Holiday book on my shelf that I have been avoiding assiduously, if only for the exalted title: \”This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared.\” Rabbi Alan Lew\’s book, subtitled, \”The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation,\” reminds me that the summer is ending, and the time has come to prepare for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
Jewish and Arab leaders say President Bush\’s appointment of Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes to a federal think tank — despite the objections of Arab groups and some congressional Democrats — offers a window into White House thinking on Middle East issues.
One offered free tickets for a congregational outing to an Angels game. Others hold \”open house\” brunches, where clergy and teachers are available for questions. Another promised to unveil sanctuary secrets after a Friday night dinner and service.
Tashbih Sayyed believes in democracy as a way of life. He can be counted among the few Muslims in America who believe that modernism, free-thinking and education are keys to rid Muslims from the morass of extremism.
In the movie, \”Oh God! Book II,\” a little girl searches for God (alias the late George Burns). She looks for the Divine in every house of worship in her city. When she is about to give up hope, God appears.
She asks God, \”Where have you been, God? I need you. I looked in every sanctuary in the city trying to find you.\”
God responds, \”Why did you look there? People only show up in those places three times a year.\”
This Rosh Hashanah brings to a close the year in which my father died. For this reason, and many others, I am grateful that the Jewish New Year is marked not by parties, but by days and weeks preceding and following of self-evaluation, quiet contemplation and prayers for blessings in the coming year.
The rabbis of the Talmud tell us that we are created with yetzer hatov (good inclination) or yetzer harah (bad inclination).
When it came time to talk about the high price of High Holiday tickets, The Jewish Journal thought there would be no better person to chat with than Ron Wolfson.
Platters of apple slivers prepared for dunking in honey are a holiday ritual symbolizing hope for a sweet New Year.
In June, the Journal incorrectly reported the 2003 results as slightly down based on incomplete figures that did not reflect the final campaign push.
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