Eyal Postelnik's 2021 Rosh Hashanah Message

Rosh Hashanah in Judaism is more than just a new year. Shana, in Hebrew, comes from the root word meaning “to repeat;” yet, also from the word to change.

There are two main cycles in the Jewish year, one for the rosh (head) of the months and one for the head of the year. Passover is the head of months, while Rosh Hashanah is for the year. The difference comes from the two cycles the Jewish calendar is combined from. The sun, which determines the cycle of the year, and the moon determines the month cycle; therefore the holidays almost always fall during the same seasons, unlike other religions.

Rosh Hashanah is also the day of the creation of Adam, the first human being, and the acceptance of our G-d.

This year is a leap year, meaning we will have thirteen months.

The idea of a new year is to get elevated, like going up in a coil spring; though we run in circles, we still go up to reach for holiness.

May this be a sweet year, a year of redemption (Geula), and may it bring us the cure to all diseases, happiness, wealth and peace.

Eyal Postelnik was born in Israel and moved to the U.S. almost two decades ago. Currently he is an active member of the Chabad of East Cobb.