T This month we as Jews the world over commemorate this Jewish New Year and the Fall Feasts. This year is a 13 month Jewish Leap Year, with the insertion of the intercalary lunar month of Adar A before the regular Adar (B), in late winter early spring. This assures that Spring Feasts stay in the Spring and the Fall Feasts in the fall while we continue to follow a lunar calendar. This year will last for 385 days, and our prayer is that this year will be sweeter and more fruitful than last year. Here in the Land flowing with Milk and Honey we will be dipping our apples in honey and wishing Jews the world over a Shanah Tovah u Metukaka—A Good and Sweet New Year.
Recently I spent time outside of Israel and enjoyed seeing the beauty of the nature in other lands. It was an exhilarating experience. Seeing the natural beauty of these nations, and at times the ease of life, can challenge a Jew in his love, loyalty and lasting appreciation for the Aretz—The Land, which Hashem granted to Israel custodianship of. Looking over the borders of our small land, the grass often seems greener elsewhere. One can think back to the times of our father Avraham when he parted ways with Lot. Lot seeing the green lush valley hurriedly chose that part of the land. In the natural Avraham, would be seen as a loser, having been left with the seemingly weaker of the lands. And yet we read of the extent that he and his descendents are promised blessing and rich provision. A land which according to Deuteronomy 11:12 Hashem Doresh Ota— Hashem watches over it from the beginning of the year until the end of the year.
As we enter this new Jewish year, we can be thankful for the riches of the restoration of the Jewish people to this unique land. A land that sends our eyes to the heavens, with a hope for the outpouring of the fall and winter rains, that will replenish the earth of this Land and allow it to be a fruitful in the coming year. There are many other lands with more water, greater mountains and valleys, and yet according to Jewish understanding it is this Land that is the source of sustenance for all the other Lands. Here our tradition holds was the Garden of Eden, and from here blessings continue to flow forth. The sages say that even the fruits and grains of the seven species that Israel has been blessed with, in a mysterious way provide the sustenance of the nations. This means that the rains that we look for in Israel, and the fruitful harvest can be a sign for the working of the Almighty amongst the Nations.
It should come as no wonder that this Land is the sustenance of the earth, as we read in Isaiah 2, Ki Metzion Tizeh Torah u Dvar Hashem Meyerushalayim—For from Zion will go out the Torah and the Word of Hashem from Jerusalem. As we celebrate the Feasts of repentance, anticipation and joy, we look to the heavens with the hope that Hashem will allow for the day or restoration in full for the Jewish people to be achieved in which this prophecy in full will go forth and we will see the Tikkun Olam—the Fixing or restoration of the Earth, through the work of our awaited Mashiach.
