RABBI'S MESSAGE
HIGH HOLIDAYS 2003/5764
By Rabbi Salomon Cohen-Scali
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"Time flies." This is the comment that I have heard most in the last few days. Once more
we are about to immerse ourselves in the celebration of the High Holidays. My late mother
of blessed memory used to respond to the above comment by saying, "it's not time that
passes by, it is people who pass over time." The very famous Spanish poet, Antonio
Mathado, expressed a similar idea with other words:
Caminante no hay camino Se hace camino al andar,
A1 andar se hace camino
Y al volver la vista atras
Se ve la senda
Que nunca se ha de volver a pisar
Traveler, there is no route
We make the route as we walk
As we walk we make the route,
And when we look back
We see the path
On which we will never walk back.
We are the ones who pass by and we are the ones who make a path as we walk. It is
good that once a year we enjoy a few days, as Mathado wrote, "to look back at the path
on which we will never walk back" to see the footprints that we are leaving behind. This is
what our sages z"l call CHESHBON HANEFESH: INTROSPECTION, which we do
during the Days of Awe (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur). At the conclusion of the cycle
of 365 days that constitutes the past year we are supposed to ask ourselves the profound
questions: Has time passed over me? Or have I passed over time? Have I made a route as
I walked? Or have I just walked on routes already made before me?
When we stand alone before G-d in the solemnity of Rosh Hashana, we should examine
our attitude towards the passing of time, as well. In the modern society in which we happen
to live we are constantly offered all kinds of objects that will save us time. Thanks to
electricity and modern engines we can do our tasks with minimum effort and much faster
than ever before. All these conveniences give us a feeling that we are making the most of
our time.
But do we really use well all the time that we save as result of the technological progress?
It was not so long ago that our ancestors in Rhodes, North Africa or elsewhere had no
washing machines, cars, telephones, computers or any of the modern appliances that we
enjoy today. Yet they found time not only to make a living but to live and enjoy full lives in
their homes and in their communities.
We all seem to take pride in our roots and our ancestry. Perhaps this Rosh Hashana we
should come to the realization that the best way to show this pride would be by trying to
imitate them, by following in their footsteps and by making ourselves a good example to our
children and our children's children, so that when we look back we are not only proud of
our ancestors but also proud of the "path made as we walk."
Our sages wrote in Pirke Abot "The day is short and the task is big" and the traditional
Jewish attitude toward time has always been to make the most of it. This is especially
relevant in today's volatile world which presents us with great moral and ethical challenges.
Just as in previous gray periods of human history, out attachment to the never-ending
source of spiritual resources, the Torah, will strengthen us and make us a model for the
world.
It is the Torah which, for thousands of years, stood foz equality, love, respect, solidarity,
the intrinsic value ol human life and the rejection of violence. These are the values that are
so dearly missed in today's turbulenl world, values which the Torah, through the Jewish
people, has bestowed upon humanity.
This same Torah is also our fountain of hope and optimism for the future, our pride and our
identity, as our sages put it, "KI HEM HAYENU VEORECH YAMENU: FOR THEY
ARE OUR LIFE AND LENGTHEN OUR DAYS".
Therefore, in these days of noble inspirations and closeness to G-d, we are supposed to
renew our vow of loyalty to the Torah, .to our ancestors and to the coming generations. By
learning it, by living it and by making the most of our time, let us "make a good and straight
route as we walk."
I would like to conclude by sharing with you my excitement for two new projects in our
dear synagogue. It is with great joy and honor that we at Ezra BessBroth embark upon the
plan to purchase two Sifre Torah, and additionally, offer the members of the congregation
the opportunity to fulfill one of the 613 commandments of the Torah by owning their own
portion.
We are also starting the ABOT UBANIM program on Sunday aftemoons, in which we
offer fathers the opportunity to come to the synagogue with their sons or daughters to spend
with them an hour of quality time in the study of Torah, under the guidance of the clergy of
our synagogue.
These are just two of the many projected activities that will set the tone for the year ahead. .
.TACHEL SHANA UBIRCHOTEHA: MAY THE YEAR BEGIN WITH ALL ITS
BLESSINGS.
Raquel, the children and I take this opportunity to bless each and every member of the Ezra
Bessaroth family, that we should be inscribed in the book of life, happiness and prosperity.
I look forward to greeting each of you personally at the synagogue during the Holidays.
Tizku Leshanim Rabot.