Just days ago I was experiencing the magnificent animals of Kenya, and feeling great awe over their existence, and my own. By that I mean that only we humans, who share this world with animals of all incredible sorts, have the “gift” that is our capacity for thought, and for changing our ways. I don’t believe that the lions, giraffes, baboons and zebras who we were blessed to see have the capacity to grow and to make significant changes in their lives. Instinct pretty much governs their lives. 

But we humans, however we define ourselves, and even with the powerful “determiner” that is genetics, still we are granted a large measure of free will in determining, if not how long we live, then how well we are living, and for what are we living? I think those are important questions that we ask, especially as we grow older. With Rosh Hashanah but days away, this is a time for us to do something so important: To do a Cheshbon Ha-nefesh, “an accounting of our souls.” 

Yes, it’s at this time especially that we ask ourselves some tough questions. Are the goals and successes that we have pursued during the past year really the most important “successes” that we want to know in our lives? And given the fragility of life, are we really spending our days as wisely and richly as we could and should? Long ago our sages taught that within each of us, there is both a part of the angel and a part of the beast. These two “spirits” are in constant struggle with each other as to which shall prevail. For all of us, may it be that we cause the angel within us to prevail against the “beast” who intrudes upon the purity of our hearts and our intended deeds.

Cindy and our family join me in wishing you Shana Tova: A year of health, love, and much fulfillment.
Rabbi David Greenberg