Rosh Hashanah is just 10 days away. We begin reciting Selichot (penitential prayers) this Saturday night. During Rosh Hashanah we pray for our needs for the coming year. In doing so we express our faith that the blessings of health, livelihood and happiness come from G-d. Yet, we need to see Hashem as more than just the “big ATM in the sky.”
One the Chassidic masters got up to address his followers during Rosh Hashanah services and related the following parable.
A store owner returned to his business after leaving it under the supervision of an employee while he went to attend to some errands. He enters the store and sees total chaos and destruction. Merchandise is scattered everywhere. Furniture is broken. The cash register is open and empty. Customers are walking out with goods for which they did not pay. He looks around to find the employee who was entrusted with the management of the store. He finally notices his worker sitting lazily behind the counter with his feet up, cocktail in one hand and a cigar in the other. As soon as the manager sees his boss he gets up and instead of apologizing or at least explaining the situation, he demands a raise in his salary.
The lesson is obvious. Certainly Hashem is committed to taking care of us and providing for our needs. Therefore we are correct in praying and asking that those needs be met. But let us not be like the brazen manager who was blatantly negligent is his work and yet has the chutzpah to demand more. Rather let’s buckle down and do our jobs and our “Employer” will show His appreciation for our dedication to His business of making this world a good and G-dly place.
For additional layers of meaning of Rosh Hashanah, please join us for Lunch N Learn next Thursday at noon downtown at NY Camera. The topic is “What is Rosh Hashanah?”
If you are in the market for a Synagogue for the High Holidays, we would be honored if you considered Chabad. Our services, while conducted in Hebrew, are warm and user friendly with a lot of singing and a running commentary throughout the service. We do not charge for seats and anyone is welcome to attend. We are saving a seat for you!
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova.
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin