Rosh haShanah
This year I was invited to give a talk on the first day of the Jewish New Year. New years, whether Jewish, or Christian, or Zoroastrian, to mention the few that I observe, are always linked to resolutions. We always try to idealize things that we should but often fail to accomplish in the new year. One of the characteristics of the Jewish New Year is the blowing of the shofar. This is a primitive musical instrument, made of a sheep’s ram. When God gave us the Bible at Mount Sinai the blast of the shofar was heard. My speech also mentions Hasidism, a 18th century Jewish movement whose leader was Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, who became known as the Baal Shem Tov – the Lord of the Good Name. He was a charismatic leader that used to say that we should always be close to God, not only in moments of affliction, but also when we are cheerful and happy. Rabbi Rami Shapiro is, to me, a neo-hasid. He is an important contemporary intellectual who wrote many books. I quote her...