By Oliver B. Pollak , Ph.D
BRENTWOOD, California — I wrote this for a friends-and-family Erev Rosh Hashanah meal:
new year comes annually
seasons differ and divide
Rosh Hashanah means “head of the year”
a rabbi recently taught that Hashanah also refers to
repetition, change and learning
every day is holy – daily mitzvah – good deeds
we know not how the day will end
bless day and night – effort and repose
we will confess, repent, purge our sins and atone
forgive more, thank more, apologize
family and friends bound by history, faith and love
share food around a table
the harvest of land and sea
fills the goat horn cornucopia
prepared by skilled and loving hands
Tikkun Olam, repair the world
the fortunate aid the less endowed
spread understanding and compassion, resist selfishness and meanness of spirit
praise kindness and equity amidst freedom, justice, and patience for all
may we keep each other safe turning sentiment into deeds
Let us heed the Shofar’s call
Let us enjoy this meal
Let Yom Kippur cleanse our soul
Let us face the future
Let 5782 be a fresh start
and
let us remember from whom we came and those taken from us
and repeat ‘may their memory be as a blessing’
I wish San Diego Jewish World readers L’Shana Tovah
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Oliver B. Pollak, a professor emeritus of history at the University of Nebraska Omaha, and a lawyer, is a correspondent now based in Richmond, California.