Today is the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah also known as the New Year. In the weeks leading up to it, Jews meditate and engage in a ritual called Slichot or literally: apologies. This is the process of taking stock of your year: what you remember and acknowledging what you can’t remember. It is also a time to release any vows you made and didn’t keep or people you hurt. Events you regret. During Rosh Hashanah, you’ll be putting the previous year to rest so that you don’t carry it all into the coming year which can then be truly new.

Traditionally, you wish people either a happy and sweet year or shanah tovah uhmetukah which means happy and sweet new year. You also dip apples or challah in honey to ritually symbolize joy.

I liked this tweet I found about Rosh Hashanah. You’ll see a mention of Isaac’s binding, which a) Jews don’t take literally, b) see as a moment meant for independent thinking. In Judaism, god is basically like: dude, wtf, why would you kill your son just because I asked? Knock that off. Don’t just do stuff without questioning why and whether or not it really fits with your principles.

I can’t believe it’s almost a year since the torture and murder of innocent people on October 7th. I can’t believe it’s a year since the bombing of Gaza. Sometimes it feels as though this conflict will never end. Bring the hostages like 1 year old Kfir home. Cease fire, surrender, and rebuild. If we have even some of this, it will be a year of new hope. The only thing that can save lives is to want peace more than we want to be right. Chag Sameach! Happy Rosh Hashanah!

A reminder: Deligitimizing Jewish or Palestinian connections to the homeland is a bad look. Peace is the right look. Let’s focus on that.