Weekly Torah Commentaries UMJC - Union Of Messianic Jewish Congregations

In “Julius Caesar,” William Shakespeare takes the liberty of putting these
words in Mark Anthony’s mouth: “Friends, Romans, countrymen; lend me your
ears.” In the drama called life, Judaism takes the liberty of representing
the Creator pleading: “Friends and Hebrew countrymen lend me your year.”

With the arrival of the month of Tishrei, we enter the serious yet
strangely joyous High Holy Day season. What starts with teshuvah/repentance
at Rosh Hashana will be sealed on the judgment day of Yom Kippur. As if to
give us all a divine break, we have five days from the close of Yom Kippur
to the next major holiday: Sukkot.

It’s clear from the beginning of our parasha that Moses has a strong
message to communicate. He begins by calling both Heaven and Earth as
witnesses, and then goes on to say: “Remember the days of antiquity,
understand the years across generations.”

Rosh Hashanah is Judaism’s Day of Judgment. Sound scary? Actually, it
should be the most enjoyable day of your life. After all, it is your
birthday. It’s everyone’s birthday! According to our tradition it is the
world’s birthday!

Sos Asis – Hebrew for “rejoice greatly,” is the first phrase of this week’s
haftarah and the title of the whole portion. We have endured, we have
survived, we have overcome because of him, and now we are wrapped in his
righteousness.

Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going with my life? Is God with
me or against me? I remember all too well the years when those pressing
questions had no answer. And then the library workers at my university went
on strike.