Happy January Revisited

I feel a need to follow up on my previous post.  While 2012 was in so many ways a year for the record books, I, as a believing Jew, look at Earth’s journey around the sun in another way as well.  For our people, there is more than one beginning to the year.  Each is fraught with meaning and provides inspiration and guidance in our daily lives.

First and foremost is one (almost) everybody’s heard about: Rosh Hashanah.   It heralds the awesome, inspiring holy days on which the slate is wiped clean and we look forward to a year of blessing, health, peace, and whatever else we need and desire.  After almost a full month of connecting with the Creator and rejoicing in the goodness bestowed upon us, we return to our regular routine.

For residents of the Northern Hemisphere, that includes watching summer give way to autumn and autumn fade into winter.  When the cold season is at its height, and it seems that spring is far, far away, along comes the next new year.  Tu Bishvat, the New Year for Trees, is the day when trees in the Land of Israel begin another fruit-bearing cycle.  As we commemorate the holiday by eating various types of fruits, there is a feeling of dual celebration: of the Creator’s care for all of His creation, and of the knowledge that spring will arrive in our locales.

At the onset of spring comes Nissan.  It’s is the first month on the Jewish calendar, and all succeeding ones are reckoned from it.  Passover occurs at this time.  At this season of beginnings and positive changes (of our people as a nation dedicated to the ideals of serving the Creator; of going beyond our limitations and reaching new heights; of new animal and plant life), we experience the sensation of making, once again, a new start.

Yes, the twelve months recently concluded were momentous ones.  Yet, we have many occasions to begin anew and celebrate the opportunities that the future brings.  Isn’t that enough of a reason to rejoice?

A New Year, A New Beginning

When one reads the headlines or listens to the news, one wonders what’s going on in the world.  Innocent youngsters becoming targets for thugs with guns.  Embassies attacked and personnel killed (ostensibly) because of a film that offends certain sensibilities.  Iran is flexing its military muscles, increasing the world’s concern about that country’s nuclear capabilities.  Childhood obesity is on the rise.  Beautiful and important natural phenomena such as the Everglades, rain forests, and the Dead Sea are shrinking–and may one day be gone.

When it seems like our planet is headed for disaster, we receive a timely reminder that all is not hopeless.  We can make a new start.

Every year, Jews the world over observe a new year.  We resolve to be just a little bit better, try a little bit harder, be a little bit kinder, show a little more happiness.  At the same time, we (re)turn to the Source of everything, and acknowledge that His assistance and guidance are what will see us through the bumps and turns on the road ahead.

As we move closer to the awesome day of Yom Kippur, which provides us with a marvelous opportunity to reconnect with the Creator and with our inner self, we have the ability to tip the scales toward a brighter future for us, our families, our friends, our coworkers, and the world we call home.  Let’s make the most of it.

Have an inspiring day and a year filled with all the blessings and good things you desire for yourself and those you love.

And Now, Back to the Books

In the event that readers of my last post were wondering about the conspicuous absence of any book recommendations, rest assured that philosophical musings have not taken the place of discussions about noteworthy reading.  To prove my point, here are some outstanding titles that are perfect for this time of year.

A little caterpillar has just hatched, and she knows only one thing: she’s gotta go to Mexico!  Other critters either have no idea what or where Mexico is, or how it’s possible for such a tiny thing to get there, but that does not deter our heroine.  When, after a long sleep, the caterpillar awakens with beautiful wings, she joins millions like herself on an amazing journey–and, in the spring, turns around and flies back!  This kid-friendly look at one of the most incredible migrations on our planet is a feast for the eyes.  Ages 5-8

Tony’s family has an annual tradition: to have a picnic at the Statue of Liberty every October in honor of the monument’s birthday.  Tony doesn’t think much of the idea; it’s much too cold for a picnic, and he doesn’t understand why it means so much to Grandma anyway.  But then he meets some new immigrants who help him understand the importance of the statue to families–like his–who have come from another land.  Ages 5-9

Donny’s grandmother is coming to visit, and the little boy is concerned: he knows he can never measure up to his grandma’s proper behavior.  But kids will be kids, and when he enters the room where she is staying, Donny can’t resist having some fun with the balls of yarn she has left there–with the result that, before he knows it, there is a tangled mess of yarn everywhere.  His angry mother orders him to undo the damage.  Just when the job seems hopeless, his grandma comes to help with a story of how she herself–to Donny’s astonishment–got into a similar situation with her own grandmother.  A perfect story about forgiveness for this season when Jews the world over are looking inside and looking ahead to a new year of fresh beginnings and all the blessings that life can bring.

May this new year bring you and your loved ones health, happiness, and all good things.