A time of reflection ….

During this time of year as we gather with friends and family we have the chance to look back and reflect on the past year. What went right, what went wrong, what we could have done different, what went just the way we planned it. And, as we have talked about so much in the past few months we have had a chance to “Celebrate the past”, and now we look toward a “Vision of the Future.”

We have so much to be thankful for at BSKI, but, yet, so much further to go. But as long as the BSKI family remains a strong vital community together there is much we can accomplish.

We are to look around at the miracle of creation and rejoice that we are a part of it. The energy we derive from each other must be used to repair the damage we have caused through mistakes and intentional acts toward one another. Repentance, prayer and charity (teshuvah, tefilah and tzedakah) temper Judgment's harsh decree.

We are taught in the teachings of the High Holy Days that we have the ability to temper the severity of the ruling on our behavior through these three acts. In truth, by turning away from the path that led to the transgression, by praying for forgiveness, by working to repair the world by helping those in need, we indeed make the world a better place and our lives richer. We can approach these days of awe with renewed purpose and energy as we strive to redeem ourselves and our world with positive action through true repentance, heartfelt prayer and acts of loving kindness. Or we can do nothing, paralyzed by our own fear, unable to act to effect our own redemption.

Gail, Paul, Jordan and I join together in this prayer for the New Year: “My God, keep my tongue from evil, my lips from lies. Help me ignore those who slander me. Let me be humble before all. Open my heart to Your Torah, so that I may pursue Your Mitzvot. Frustrate the designs of those who plot evil against me. Make nothing of their schemes. Do so because of Your compassion, Your power. Your holiness and Your people. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to You, my rock and my Redeemer. He who brings peace to His universe  will bring peace to us and to all the people Israel. Amen.”

L'Shanah Tova Tikateivu ! May we all be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good and peace-filled New Year.  Amen.

B,Shalom

Ricky Kodner