Haven't been sleeping much-- too much to talk about, narrow streets to walk, odd people to encounter, soup to eat, nothings to murmur in someone's ear...Rosh Hashanah/ Yom Kippur-- it ain't about sin, but rather missing the mark. Not fully being the person you are capable of being. None of us ever fill the bill totally-- there is always something that falls short, in our relationships, ways of dealing with our own health, connection to the environment, care for our fellow humans...
Tshuvah means "return," not "repentance." Return to our Maker, return to a state of inner calm and confidence, return to our loved ones, return to our truest selves. Return to holiness.
When Reb Zusia was on his deathbed he said:
In heaven they aren't going to ask me, "Why weren't you more like Abraham?" or "Why weren't you more like Moses?" Of course not. When I get to heaven they will ask me, "Why weren't you more like Zusia?" And for this, I will have no good answer.
Our prayers of Tshuvah are meaningless if we have not sought reconcilation from the people we have hurt. And so please, please, beloved readers... Accept this as my Tshuvah:
If I have hurt or offended you in any way-->
- by neglect
- by obnoxious acts or comments
- with malice
- without malice
- by not controlling my urges and impulses
- by not containing my dark moods
- by ignoring your voice
- by not communicating enough
- by talking too much
- by being judgmental, impatient, curt or scornful
- by being too serious
- by not being serious enough
If I have, in any way, given you less than the total love and respect that you all deserve,
Please forgive me, release me to make Tshuvah with God, and accept my sincerest apologies and wishes for a full reconcilation between us, in love and brotherhood.
And so, Shanah Tovah, a Happy New Year, Chag Sameach, and a Chatimah Tovah-- may you be inscribed for LIFE in the Book of Life.
Have a great Rosh Hashanah
not my baby, by the way
6 comments:
Well said nephew.
I hope I also will be forgiven for any hurt I may have caused.
Red neck aunt
Tsuvah accepted. let's all work on being better this coming year.
Chatimah Tovah....First photograph looks like you in my caar when we were driving around.....2nd photo looks great...put a beard on the baby and I will see the resemblance
Amen Mother!
Amen Burt!
Amen Aunt Barbara!
hope you had a good one, and are gearing up for the big YK....
you are forgiven. just don't let it happen again!
Chatimah tovah!
well, i think what you wrote was wonderful. and after reading your blog yesterday i decided to send out an e-mail to my crew, jonah's family, and some friends. i'll pass it along to you via e-mail. whomever you take on as a congregation will be so fortunate to have you to guide them. you get to the heart of so much of this stuff and really remind me of why i fell in love with judaism to start off with. i hope you feel surrounded by joy and warmth and love in this season, in particular, but i always hope that for you, of course.
-j.webster
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