Lilli Jennison's Rosh Hashanah Message for 2024

Shanah Tovah Umetukah!
Wishing You a Sweet New Year.

As Rosh Hashanah approaches, we enter a time of reflection, renewal, and hope for the future. This holiday gives us the opportunity to look back on the past year and consider the growth we’ve experienced, the challenges we’ve faced, and the goals we’ve set for ourselves. One of the personal goals I set for myself this year has been to complete a 100-book reading challenge, and as we celebrate this season of new beginnings, I find there are many parallels between my reading journey and the lessons of Rosh Hashanah.

So far, I’ve read 70 out of 100 books, though I’m two behind my goal at the moment. It’s been an amazing experience discovering new stories and perspectives, with some of my favorites this year being “Home Before Dark,” by Riley Sager, “Please Tell Me,” by Mike Omar, “Rock Paper Scissors,” by Alice Feeney, and “The Grandest Game,” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Each book has provided me with different insights and surprises, reminding me how much there is to learn and explore in life, whether through fiction or real experiences.

Just as we strive to improve ourselves during the High Holy Days, my reading challenge has been a reminder that growth doesn’t come all at once. There are times when we may fall behind or face unexpected challenges, but the journey is about persistence, curiosity, and the desire to keep learning. Rosh Hashanah invites us to embrace that same mindset: to acknowledge where we’ve fallen short, and to recommit to our goals and values with a sense of renewal and purpose.

This new year is an opportunity to reflect on the stories we are writing in our own lives, to think about the chapters that have passed and the ones we still have the power to shape. Whether in the pages of a book or in the unfolding of our own lives, we are reminded that every day is a chance to start fresh and continue on our path with hope and determination.

May this Rosh Hashanah inspire you to pursue your own passions and goals with renewed energy. Shanah Tovah! Wishing you a sweet new year filled with growth, discovery, and, of course, many more good books!

Lilli Jennison is the Creative Director for the Atlanta Jewish Times.