With Rosh Hashanah literally around the bend, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Shana Tova Umetuka (good and sweet year) from all of us at Chabad of Louisiana. We hope that 5776 is a year of health, happiness, prosperity, and meaningful growth for all of us and most importantly a year of peace and redemption for the world.
Why do we add sweet to the good year wishes? Someone shared an explanation for this with me the other day. If we just say good – well everything that G-d does is good. When we add sweet we are wishing that it should the kind of good that we can appreciate and clearly perceive as sweet.
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev once made the following observation. We talk of being inscribed in the book of life or, G-d forbid, the opposite. Since the judgement takes place on Rosh Hashanah when certain types of activities, including writing, are prohibited, how could Hashem inscribe us in any book? Rabbi Levi Yitzchak explained, since for the purpose of saving a life one may engage in those prohibited activities we must conclude that, by His own rules, Hashem has no choice but to inscribe us in the book of life – a life-saving cause indeed!
Of course the ideal situation would be that we actually earn our listing in the book of life and everything good. We have two more days to make it happen. Get cracking!
Breaking news on the Sukkah-Fest front! After last year’s “soggy and rained out, but awesome anyway” party, we are bringing back the Panorama Jazz Band for an encore! This time we are praying for a nice sunny and cool October afternoon. Mark your calendars – Thursday, October 1 at 5:30 PM – Sukkah-Fest 2015.
If you are still looking for a place for High Holidays services we encourage to try Chabad. At both locations (uptown and Metairie) all are welcome and the services are user friendly accompanied by commentary and explanations throughout. We are saving you a seat. No tickets needed.
Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova Umetuka!
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin