Rabbi Neil Sandler's Rosh Hashanah Message for 2024

What is the most moving piece of High Holiday liturgy for you? Kol Nidre? B’rosh Hashana Yikatayvoon? Something else? The piece of liturgy that most moves me is one with which you may not be familiar. It appears in Machzor Hadash:

“Our origin is dust and our end is dust…We are like a fragile vessel, like the grass that withers, the flower that fades, the shadow that passes, the cloud that vanishes, the wind that blows, the dust that floats, the dream that flies away. BUT YOU, SOVEREIGN OF ALL, ARE THE LIVING AND EVERLASTING GOD.”

There is no question that each of us possesses tremendous power. We can make right many of the moments when we have badly erred. We can provide healing to those who are hurting. And on and on.

But in the scheme of things, the High Holidays ask us to recognize and confront the fact that each of us lacks abiding power and time in this world. We pass quickly through it.

What lasts? Who remains to provide all that may be good and helpful? The Holy One.

I wish you and your loved ones a year of good health and well-being especially in these challenging times.

Neil Sandler is the Rabbi Emeritus of Ahavath Achim Synagogue and serves the Fitzgerald Hebrew Congregation.