Chana Shapiro’s Rosh Hashanah Message for 2026
Chana Shapiro shares her thoughts and inspiration for this year's High Holidays.
Chana Shapiro is an educator, writer, editor and illustrator whose work has appeared in journals, newspapers and magazines. She is a regular contributor to the AJT.
My 89-year-old uncle has been musing about the things he wishes he had done differently, questioning choices he made, opportunities he missed, advice he didn’t appreciate, things he regrets saying. At the same time, he’s grateful for his long life, clear brain, and attentive family. He knows, in spite of any missteps, he’s been blessed.
I think my uncle’s late-in-life thoughtfulness is understandable, seriously thinking about the life he built and how he reacted to problems and challenges life threw at him. I can relate to the ”woulda, shoulda, couldas” of my own life.
So here we Jews are at the beginning of a new year. If we are not in the habit of regular self-evaluation, our religion designates the annual time to do it, and the shofar is our official wake up call. We can use the time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur — the Ten Days of Awe — to consider the ways we can make this year one we won’t regret. We can’t control everything; however, we can control our own decisions, how we spend our days, and our reactions to (often terribly heavy) problems. The shofar blasts prompt us to move forward with introspection, fortitude, purpose, kindness, and hope.
Our family wishes your family a meaningful Ten Days of Awe and a very Happy New Year of good health and blessings!
Chana Shapiro is a freelance writer for Atlanta Jewish Times.
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