Rabbi Larry Sernovitz's Rosh Hashanah Message for 2026

Rabbi Larry Sernovitz shares his thoughts and inspiration for this year's High Holidays.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l once wrote the following, answering the question Why I am Jew?
“I am a Jew not because I believe that Judaism contains all there is of the human story. I admire other traditions and their contributions to the world. Nor am I a Jew because of antisemitism or anti-Zionism. What happens to me does not define who I am: ours is a people of faith, not fate. Nor is it because I think that Jews are better than others, more intelligent, creative, generous or successful. It’s not Jews who are different, but Judaism. It’s not so much what we are but what we are called on to be.”
“…Nor am I a Jew because of antisemitism or anti-Zionism. What happens to me does not define who I am.”
Since Oct. 7, we have seen record numbers of antisemitic incidents here in the United States and abroad. Jewish communities all over the world, including our community in Atlanta, stepped up and have been fighting it wherever it appears. We should be proud of our community. We remain vigilant, waiting for the next traumatic incident that demands our response. However, something happened to us during this time, albeit unwittingly. We have let antisemitism define us.
Rabbi Sacks, in the same piece wrote, “I am proud to be part of a people who, though scarred and traumatised, never lost their humor or their faith, their ability to laugh at present troubles and still believe in ultimate redemption; who saw human history as a journey, and never stopped traveling and searching.” This is who we have always been and what we must return to once again.
As Rosh Hashanah is almost here, we need to remind ourselves of the beauty that we call Judaism and is our inheritance from those we loved and in loving memory we remember. Let 5787 be the year of Jewish joy, of celebration, and learning, love, and embracing life to its fullest. Judaism recognizes that in life we will be faced with joys and sorrows alike. And that is why we always choose life and light in the midst of darkness. In 5787, let us dance again and remind those who seek to destroy us that we aren’t going anywhere.
As far as Judaism goes, “Take it, cherish it, learn to understand and to love it. Carry it and it will carry you. And may you in turn pass it on to future generations. For you are a member of an eternal people, a letter in their scroll. Let their eternity live on in you.”
L’Chaim and Shana Tova um’tukah … A good and sweet New Year to you all.