This past year, 5784, has been a rollercoaster of emotions, to say the least. During the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, we are expected to celebrate fresh starts and the creation of the world. At this time, it may be difficult to celebrate these when we have a much larger problem lingering in our minds. Unfortunately, the war that started last year, around the time of Rosh Hashanah, is still ongoing.

It is hard to process everything that has happened since October 7, 2023, and everything that is still happening now, in October 2024, one year after the war officially started. It is important and helpful for us to educate ourselves on the significant events that have occurred so we can stand up for Israel. This can also help us try to understand our emotions related to October 7th.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, as stated earlier, is a time for reflection and celebration. There are still many other things we can reflect on as we hope for improvements in Israel.

Many people dip apples in honey on the new year, symbolizing a sweet new year. If you’re wondering why apples and honey, here is an explanation. Apples are sweet, and they come from an apple tree, which produces many other sweet apples. Honey comes from bees, and bees sting. The sting isn’t as sweet as what comes out of it. The apple and the honey are metaphors: some things are always sweet, while others may not be sweet at first, but a positive mindset can make them so.

This is one of the many traditions for Rosh Hashanah, along with attending services or blowing the shofar. This year, I helped lead the teen service along with some other teens. Being a bigger part of this service allowed me to reflect on the year in a new way and get excited about what is to come.

The new year brings new friendships, new interests, and new interactions. Whether it’s connecting yourself more closely to Judaism or trying something new, I hope you do great things this new year. Shana Tova!