Dr. Chaim Y. Botwinick
As we are about to celebrate the beautiful chag of Rosh HaShana, we reflect on this past year with sadness and frustration, balanced with hope and promise.
From the tragic events of October 7, 2023 to the explosive rise and proliferation of global anti-Semitism, we are now living during a period of time in our history which acheinu bnai yisrael will never ever forget; and, one which is reshaping the trajectory Jewish history.
It’s so hard to believe that in several weeks, we will be commemorating the second anniversary of the October 7th massacre – an inconceivable and an unimaginable tragedy which changed our Jewish world for generations. To be sure, who would have thought or imagined that almost two years year ago, on the very day of Rosh HaShana, HaShem would have decreed that we would experience a tragedy of such magnitude and proportion on Shemini Aseret/Simchat Torah of that year.
But, as painful and as incomprehensible this event was, Chazal teach us that throughout our history, although we have been confronted with tremendous challenge, adversity and hopelessness, we eventually emerged as an achienu bnai yisrael with strength, resolve, resilience and promise.
This awesome and impressive resilience is only possible b’yad HaShem – through the powerful hand of GD. And, it is deeply embedded and anchored in our nation’s DNA as an Ish Echad B’lev Echad – as One People (One Nation) with One Heart.
As a people, we have survived tragedies for millennia. Whether we experienced expulsion, anti-Semitic persecution, displacement or unfortunate death, we grew and even thrived as a people and as a nation – always bolstered and supported by our bitachon, emunah and achdut.
As a child, I recall how Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur were one of the most difficult and challenging periods of time in our household.
As a Rabbi’s son, I grew up in a household which viewed Yomim Naraim as the most time-consuming and stressful times of the year. My father z”l was preoccupied by putting the finishing touches on his drashas (sermons), ensuring that all congregants had a proper seat in shul, and accompanying congregants and their families to cemeteries for their annual visit the grave-sites of loved ones. My mother spent her time preparing for Yom Tov, ensuring that anyone in the community in need had a place to eat during Yom Tov and was ensured a gracious invitation for all Rosh HaShana meals. This was in addition to ensuring that all in need had a place to be mitpallel with a minyan, as well as an opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah of hearing the shofar.
All of this frenetic activity was happening with bright beautiful smiles on their faces and with the most eloquent and positive demeanor one can ever imagine.
The one attribute (one of many) my parents possessed which I will always remember, was their amazing positivity. Always minimizing sadness, stress and tragedy and emphasizing the positive aspects of life. In fact, they made a point to encourage me and my brothers to always think about the positive aspects of our lives; always focused on the glass being half-full as opposed to half empty – irrespective of the circumstance.
These attributes were also evident through the words and language they used and the continued emphasis on speaking softly and kindly. Never speaking lashon haraah or raising their voices; and always speaking in a welcoming and positive tone and at times even in a whisper. A middah which I always respected and tried desperately to emulate.
As I grew older, I began to more fully appreciate my parent’s inspiring approaches to life. It also added meaning to a beautiful quote attributed to the Lubavitcher Rebbe – if you think positive, it will be positive.
Friends, as we approach the sacred Chag of Rosh HaShana, in light of the daunting realities we are currently confronting – including increased global anti-Semitism, the aftermath of the October 7th tragedy; the continued war in Gaza and the yearning and heartbreak for the precious hostages, let alone the sporadic missile attacks from Yemen, is it truly possible to view life through positive lenses? Can we truly and sincerely view life’s circumstances through half-full glasses?
As we know, Rosh HaShana is a time for reflection and introspection; it’s a time for tefilla, and teshuva and a time when we are all committed to personal and communal growth.
In addition to marking the start of the ten Days of Repentance, culminating on Yom Kippur, it marks the beginning of the new year and is a period in our lives when we all are mitpallel to HaShem for good health, peace and prosperity. It reminds all of us to plant seeds of chesed and kindness.
In addition, it affords us an opportunity to reflect on the past, live fully in the present and step boldly and humbly into the future. We ask HaShem that or actions are aligned with our dreams and that our families and acheinu will be blessed with forgiveness for past deeds
Moving Forward in Light of Today’s Realities
Friends, in light of the many insurmountable challenges we face as individuals, families and communities, is it humanly possible to be optimistic during a period of time in our history when we are all experiencing tremendous existential uncertainty?
There are those who feel that the events of these almost past two years are just way too much to bare and that true optimism is physically, psychologically and emotionally difficult, if not impossible.
Then, there are those who sincerely believe that a half-full glass is not only a desired imperative by truly possible and achievable.
As we reflect upon this challenge just before Rosh Hashana, we ask ourselves – how many of our precious Holocaust survivors survived the war with a positive demeanor for hope, promise and an outlook for brighter futures. Was it easy? Absolutely not. But these precious souls had a level of bitachon and emunah in HaShem that they and countless generations that followed will have a more positive and brighter future.
Just look at the amazing nissim (miracles) we are now hearing about which took place during October 7th, or the nissim experienced by our IDF brothers and sisters on the front or those living in southern and northern Israeli border towns or during missile barrages on Israeli population centers.
These nissim do not include those which we, our families and acheinu experience on a daily basis.
These are amazing stories and miracles. Not only stories of courage and resolve…but stories of deep and profound trust in HaShem and in his wonders.
The great Kotzker Rebbe is quoted as saying that optimism and positivity are the result of a mindset anchored in bitachon and emunah in HaShem.
Feelings of anger, frustration, and sadness are counterproductive and not sustainable. In fact, they may even exacerbate negative feelings, making it all the more difficult to attain and maintain a positive mindset.
Acheinu bnai yisrael have experienced way too many tragedies throughout history only to result in positive outcomes. Here too, we must create conditions for positive thinking. We must look at all the goodness Hashem offers; and we must look at our glasses as being half full opposed to half empty.
As we approach Rosh HaShana it is imperative that we engage in personal and communal reflection and introspection which results in hope, promise and positivity.
This critically important disposition also includes our ability and capacity to support and celebrate the concept of ben adam l’chavero – the manner in which we treat our fellow Jews, whether they are religious or secular. Here to, we are positioned to view our roles and dispositions as positive as opposed to negative or critical of others.
The great Chofetz Chaim is quoted as saying that even the manner in which we speak or address our neighbors has a profound impact not only on that neighbor but also on our character, mood and demeanor.
On Rosh HaShana, we are mitpallel to HaShem that show us racmanut (mercy) and good favor to us in judgment. This judgment is based in part on our ability to transcend our everyday habits and inclinations and to conduct ourselves bzelem elokim, in the true image of GD and to serve as a mamlechet kohanim and as an ohr laGoyim.
On this Rosh HaShana, let us all remember……
Mah Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov, Mishknotecha Yisrael. – How lovely are your tents (people of) Yaakov; your sanctuaries (people of) Israel.
May HaShem bless us on this Rosh HaShana with the continued ability, will, strength and fortitude to view this world through positivity, hope and promise; and, may we all have a healthy, safe and positive Shana Tova.
Shana Tova U’metukah
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Chaim Botwinick is a senior executive coach and an organizational consultant. He served as president and CEO of the central agency for Jewish education in Baltimore and in Miami; in addition to head of school and principal for several Jewish day schools and yeshivot. As Jewish communal Influencer, he has published and lectured extensively on topics relating to education, resource development, strategic planning and leadership development. Dr. Botwinick is co-founder of LEV Consulting Associates and is producer/host for the Chinuch Horizons podcast. He is Author of “Think Excellence: Harnessing Your Power to Succeed Beyond Greatness”, Brown Books, 2011
