ChabadNewOrleans Blog

An elderly man, who had not accessed his bank account for many years, sent his grandson to make a withdrawal. The bank manager calls to ask for his account password, to which he replies, “Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Baton Rouge.” The smiling banker inquires as to the origin of this original password, to which the old man replies, “They told me I needed a password that had seven characters and one capital.”

Clearly the elderly man did not get the message. We are currently in middle of the Days of Awe. During a season such as this one we must ask ourselves if we are “getting the message.” Many people resolve to do things different for the coming year. This is a wonderful practice. However, we must consider carefully what kind of resolutions we take upon ourselves in light of the time in which we find ourselves.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are days that are meant to be focused on our relationship with Hashem. On Rosh Hashanah we coronate Hashem as our king (Malkeinu) and on Yom Kippur we highlight the special intensity of our deep connection to Hashem. Chasidism teaches that Neilah (closing) means that the doors of heaven close, leaving us inside alone with G-d.

May I therefore suggest that our resolutions take on the nature of the times? In addition to resolving to be more health conscious, less stressed, increase family ties, less scattered etc., let us also and more importantly resolve to pay more attention to prayer, Torah study and Mitzvah observance. In doing so, we will find that many of the other matters begin to fall into place as well.

May Hashem seal us all for a year of health, happiness, prosperity and meaning!

Mazel Tov to Julie and Jim Gillis and family upon the birth of their daughter Tamar Elisheva!

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin

Many wonder how we can celebrate Rosh Hashanah if it is a judgment day. Festive meals, holiday clothing and other signs of celebration seem to be out of place. The Baal Shemtov explains that G-d’s love for us is so profound that we can be certain of a positive outcome of the judgment. He illustrated this by way of a parable. The greatest scholar in town, named Yankel, spends most of his time in study. In particular, Yankel likes to study from memory because this requires him to concentrate even more. When Yankel’s son comes to him in middle of his studies and wants to share an idea or a thought, he not only interrupts his study to listen, he also does so with great pleasure. Even though Yankel’s wisdom far exceeds that of his little boy, still his love for the child allows him to take pleasure even in his small accomplishments.  

So to, explains the Baal Shemtov, Hashem’s love for His people is so great that their smallest accomplishments make Him proud. When the angels questioned G-d’s desire to create man, saying that humans would be limited and filled with faults, G-d replies by proudly pointing out how much they will achieve despite the challenges they face to get through life. This love motivates us to celebrate Rosh Hashanah with the confidence that Hashem will inscribe and seal us for a good and sweet year.

This should also motivate us to view our fellow Jew as the object of G-d’s love and therefore deserving of being treated as such. When G-d sees us treating each other with love and caring – that further infuses Him with joy and gives greater impetus to grant us all of our needs and desires for the good.

Chabad’s open door policy is in affect for the High Holidays and all year round. All are welcome to come and join us for any or all of the services. For a complete schedule please see www.chabadneworleans.com/calendar.

May Hashem grant each and every one us a good, sweet, healthy, prosperous and meaningful new year of 5773, and may this be the year in which we finally experience what humanity has waited for since the dawn of time – the complete and final redemption!

Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin