Welcome to the JLL Letter,
The High Holidays begin on the eve of September 25th. We welcome in the New Year of 5783 with joy as we listen to the blasts of the Shofar. The Holidays end on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, beginning just before sundown on October 4th. It's a solemn time when all Jews come together in unity, as one extended family in the greater Jewish community.
The blowing of the Shofar is a mournful and awe-inspiring sound as we contemplate and reflect upon all of G-d's creation from the beginning of time. Rosh Hashanah marks the day of G-d's Creation of the world, and of Adam and Eve. We reflect upon the revelation at Mt. Sinai, the Destruction of the Holy Temple, and the Day of Judgment.
As the Day of Judgment approaches it is a time we are in awe and fear of G-d. Those of us who are righteous will be inscribed into the Book of Life.
The Shofar is not like any other instrument. Because it is natural and comes from a living animal, each ram's horn is unique like the animal itself, and no two Shofars are the same. No two human beings are the same either. We are all created in G-d's image. We all have the spark of the Light of Hashem within us. The loss or destruction of even one innocent life is a tragedy.
There could be nothing more critical at this time than to hope and pray for a unified America. We live in a culture and country that is unrecognizable and has never been more divided. The crime rate is at an all-time high. Marriage and childbirth are in decline. Families are in disarray. Schools and libraries are promoting horrific transgender ideologies that have no place in public school, public life or in any educational setting.
Hospitals are mutilating young people in horrific surgeries If you "Click to see Evil" in the meme down below, you'll see how bad it is.
There is a growing intolerance for people of faith. The recent Supreme Court decision requiring Yeshiva University to recognize a "Pride Alliance" group is in conflict with the religious beliefs of the school and of Judaism.
In recent years, Christian business owners and churches have been besieged by vicious attacks and lawsuits against them because of their beliefs.
Perhaps we need to hope for more and pray for more to effect a positive change and return to the moral values Americans once took for granted. There is nothing moral about forcing a religious institution or religious people to abandon their core principles. There is nothing civilized about promoting the destruction of human life, whether it is born or unborn.
For subscribers who have not read my article: Rosh Hashanah: The Gift of Life, Hope and Renewal, here is the link.
A Sweet and Happy New Year to all those celebrating.
For Life,
Bonnie Chernin, President
Jewish Life League
