The Gregorian calendar has just crested into the New Year: 2012. It is not difficult to notice the differences between the Jewish Rosh Hashanah (new year, literally “head of the year”) and January 1. In the secular world the transition from one year to the next is often marked with parades and fireworks, with fancy menus at expensive restaurants and an abundance of alcohol. Doesn’t sound much like Rosh Hashanah does it? But there is one similarity, which is often ignored: the New Year’s resolution.
The New Year’s resolution began in the 1st century CE in Rome where they made resolutions of a moral flavor. When the Roman Empire took Christianity as its official religion the resolution was replaced by a day of prayer and fasting. Sound like any day you know of in the Jewish calendar? Alas, New Year’s Day is not replete with the communal and personal prayer of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, along with their rituals among community and family and periods of deep self-reflection. But that does not mean that the new year and its tradition of making resolutions does not have something to offer us as Jews.
We, as Jews, are a people of resolutions, only we call the process “cheshbon hanefesh”, an account of our souls. The process is much like creating a personal budget only instead of financial matters it operates strictly in spiritual terms. When doing cheshbon hanefesh, want to ask questions like, “Am I living up to the godliness and goodness inside of me?” “Am I maximizing my investment in those I love and care for?” “Have I balanced my accounts with God?” You get the picture.
As we enter 2012, perhaps we could take the same path for our resolutions. Instead of worrying about the numbers on a scale or the numbers in our bank accounts, let us ask some different questions:
• Am I treating the physical vessel housing my soul in the holiest possible way? Our bodies are sacred and we should treat them as such.
• Have I spent my financial means with giving to others as much as receiving for myself? Nothing feeds the soul more than giving. It reminds us of our capacity to help and highlights our blessings.
• The world is filled with more than we can take in, constant demands on our attention. Have I set aside time for sanctuary, quiet contemplation and sacred space?
• Can I reach out to the holy, Divine, by finding rituals that allow me to reach out – lighting candles or daily meditation/prayer, acts of loving kindness? Rituals are simply moments of connecting – to ourselves, to one another and to God.
• Do I own my time or does it own me? Our loved ones are precious. Have I spent more time checking email than checking in on them?
Though it may not be “part of our tradition” to celebrate the New Year, its wisdom is not far from the riches of Jewish practice. We can, on this journey into newness, find a deep spirituality replete with accountability to live a life of holiness and deep meaning.
So this January, spend some time doing your accounts. Not those for your taxes but those for your soul. You might find yourself with very different answers in January 2013. Shanah Tovah. I mean, Happy New Year.
Elianna Yolkut is a Conservative Rabbi teaching Torah and celebrating Judaism in New York City. You can reach her at www.keepingkavannah.blogspot.com.
