Renee Werbin’s Rosh Hashanah Message for 2026

As we embark on a new year, Rosh Hashanah calls upon us to reflect on the year that has passed, to give thanks for the blessings we have received, and to enter 5787 with renewed faith and hope for the days ahead. Rosh Hashanah reminds us of our capacity to create change through the choices we make, the lives we touch and the values by which we live.
This year, our reflection carries deeper weight. To witness antisemitism rising so openly, even finding a place in our public life and among those entrusted to lead, is both frightening and heartbreaking. As antisemitic incidents continue to grow, we are confronted with a painful question we never imagined we would have to ask again: Have we truly learned from history, or are we allowing its darkest chapters to repeat themselves?
Jewish history is not only a story of what we have endured; it is the story of our people, our resilience, our strength, and our refusal to be diminished. For generations, in the face of adversity, we have held tightly to our faith, our traditions, our families and one another. We have continued to gather, to pray, to celebrate and to teach our children and grandchildren the beauty of our heritage.
Rosh Hashanah is a time to cherish what matters most: our faith, our families, our traditions and the people who enrich our lives. Perhaps one of the greatest lessons of a new year is to recognize these blessings while they are still ours to cherish.
May the time-honored tradition of dipping apples in honey usher in a year touched by sweetness, abundant in blessings and filled with peace. May those who need healing find health, those who are grieving find comfort, and those facing difficult times find strength. May the sound of the shofar unite us in faith, hope, and the promise of a brighter year ahead.
L’Shana Tova Tikatevu!

Renee Werbin is President, SRI Travel, Publisher and Co-Founder, Travelgirl Magazine.