Today, I started reading The Vaster Wilds: A Novel by Lauren Groff, a three-time National Book Award finalist. It is a taut and electrifying novel about a servant girl who escapes from a colonial settlement in the wilderness. One spirited girl alone in nature, trying to survive.
May the Shofar’s Sound Awaken Me!
Finding Meaning and Purpose in the High Holidays
Being a widow for almost twenty-nine months, I have learned to live alone despite the isolation, not by choice but due to the reality of widowhood. I have survived by seeking meaning and purpose in life; as Viktor Frankl wrote, “Man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather recognize that it is he who is asked. Each man is questioned by life, and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life and being responsible.”
As I approach the third High Holidays without my wife, I prepare to hear the shofar and find renewed purpose to lead a meaningful life. In his inspiring message for 5784, Rabbi Rick Jacobs of the Union of Reform Judaism reminds us that the shofar’s sound can awaken us from our slumber and energize us to take on the moral imperatives of the world.
What moral imperatives have I become engaged in within the last year that I can do more in 5784?
- I joined Bridges’ Board of Trustees, an organization committed to ending homelessness by demanding change. It is a crucial challenge of our time to end homelessness in Essex and Union counties in NJ. The moral crisis of homelessness demands our attention and action, and Bridges is leading the way toward a brighter future for everyone.
- As my second moral imperative, I am committed to ending the environmental crisis that threatens life as we know it on our only planet. Our responsibility, irrespective of our beliefs, is to ensure a healthier world for future generations. We must always remember that no alternative planet is available, so we must work collectively to protect our world.
I have other priorities, such as Hanson Park, the Jan Lilien Education Fund, and various charities I support.
As we heed the shofar’s call, let us awaken to our shared responsibility to repair the world. Let’s work together to ensure this new year brings us the strength and courage to take action toward a better future. Shana Tova!
The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.
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Change is a difficult concept for many people to accept. We often prefer things the way they are. However, life inevitably changes, and holding onto the past can impede our progress. After my wife passed away, I found myself clinging to the past. Although it helped me initially, in the long run, it hindered my growth.
Embracing the present and welcoming new changes can be challenging, especially when it means letting go of the past. However, I have learned that holding on to what was will only hinder my growth. Heraclitus once said that we are never the same person twice, and I find comfort in this truth. My wife's memory lives on, and I am inspired to live each day to the fullest, just as she taught me. I am excited about the endless possibilities and take comfort in knowing that every moment is an opportunity to grow.
