L'Shana Tova Tikatavu

L'Shana Tova Tikatavu

May you be inscribed (in the Book of Life) for a good year.

Those words are the translation of the Hebrew in the title. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and literally means “head of the year.”

Rabbi Benjamin Blech has an insightful article titled “Jews Don’t Say Happy New Year” on Rosh HaShanah. An excerpt quoting Kathleen Vohs, “Happy people get joy from receiving benefits from others while people leading meaningful lives get a lot of joy from giving to others.” In other words, meaning transcends the self while happiness is all about giving the self what it wants.”

Jews and gentiles alike the world over could use a little dose of selflessness to counteract our impulse for selfishness. May there be peace in this time of upheaval as the drumbeat of war works its way through capitals around the world.

Related Articles

More From Holy Days Articles

Western Wall Prayers and Letters

Letters to God

As the High Holy Days approached, Danny Goldstein, the Post Director in Israel, met with Rabbi…
Letters to God

Potato Pancake

Potato pancakes are shallow-fried pancakes of grated or ground potato, flour and egg, often…
Potato Pancake

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, the Day of atonement, is the most sacred of the Jewish holidays. It is regarded as…
Yom Kippur

Passover Pineapple Crumble

Matzo meal makes a perfect crumble topping for a fruity dessert to round out the Passover meal.…
Passover Pineapple Crumble

Porkless Passover Toast

Introducing our exclusive brand new Shalom Adventure cartoon series Porkless created by the…
Porkless Passover Toast

Future Fulfillment

As with each of the other Fall Holy Days, with Sukkot we look forward with eager anticipation…
Future Fulfillment

Dip Your Apple...

Jewish tradition requires us to dip our apple in honey on Rosh Hashana!
Dip Your Apple...

A Woman Won by Love

I have a couple of young male friends who once made a science of flirting. They read books…
A Woman Won by Love

Israel's Independence Day

Out of the tears of the Shoah God birthed the modern nation of Israel. On May 14, 1948 David…
Israel's Independence Day
Feast of Trumpets

Feast of Trumpets

The Feast of Trumpets is the first of the fall feasts. It begins on the first day of the…
Feast of Trumpets

Sounding the Shofar

For those of you who have attended, a Rosh HaShanah service (or watched one here on the Shalom…
Sounding the Shofar

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation