Rabbi Leonard Cohen: Changing the Past 

By Rabbi Leonard Cohen

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(Calgary) – A wise person once imparted to me, “The horrible truth about the past is that we cannot change it.”  Our present and future lives stagnate when we remain mired in regrets or anger about the past. Yet moving on from the past is hard. There is grief when coming to grips with events that occurred and cannot be altered.

We may not always understand how & why past events unfolded the way they did. But when we take a compassionate view towards the past, we can identify what drove us or others towards choices that were made. This opens doorways to discover new insight and knowledge. It provides us the resilience to survive and adapt to the challenges we face.

In Jewish belief, we CAN change the past, by deriving new meaning and purpose from it.  When a person does Teshuva – a genuine repentance and changing of ways – that Teshuva transforms past wrongdoings into mere mistakes or even a preface to great mitzvot.

There is rarely anything as powerful as the force of shame and regret.  Imagine if we could take that negative power, all those things that burden our soul, and use that very energy to fuel the lives we are meant to lead.

Rosh Hashanah is the optimal time for this.  The occasion of the New Year provides the process for the transformation of guilt to meaningful inspiration.

Viktor Frankl, a renowned psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, is best known for his seminal work, Man’s Search for Meaning. Central to Frankl’s philosophy is the belief that finding purpose is crucial for human survival and psychological well-being. According to Frankl, even in the direst circumstances, such as his experiences in Nazi concentration camps, individuals can endure suffering and find fulfillment through the pursuit of meaning. Frankl posits that meaning can be discovered through work, relationships, and even suffering itself, by choosing how one responds to life’s challenges.

The Jewish High Holidays—Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur—are profoundly reflective periods that resonate with Frankl’s ideas. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a time for introspection and renewal, urging individuals to evaluate their lives and set intentions for the coming year. This mirrors the notion of finding purpose through self-reflection and setting meaningful goals. It’s a period where individuals are encouraged to ponder their life’s direction and purpose, much like Frankl advocated for seeking deeper significance in life’s trials.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, further aligns with these ideas through its emphasis on atonement and personal growth. This day of fasting and prayer is an opportunity for Jews to confront their past actions, seek forgiveness, and make amends. The concept of deriving meaning from suffering is relevant here; the process of repentance and seeking forgiveness can be seen as a means to transcend one’s past mistakes and cultivate a renewed sense of purpose.

The three major themes of the Rosh Hashana service are Zichronot, Malchuyot, and Shofarot. Zichronot means remembrances – we look back on our collective past to gain appreciation of the exceptional, sacred experience of the Jewish people that has brought us to today. Malchuyot – majesties – refers to Hashem’s kingship which protects and sustains us; we discover strength through the divine power which emanates throughout the universe and in our lives. And Shofarot, the sounds of the shofar, signifies a yearly wake-up call to our souls.

At the start of the New Year, our aim is to harness the memories of our past (Zichronot) to fuel the sacred power of our present (Malkhuyot) to inspire us to change our future (Shofarot). Through our High Holiday prayer, we confront the overwhelming responsibility Hashem has entrusted to us in granting us the miracle of Life. We have meaning to uncover, mitzvot to attain, and glory to bring to the world.

May the coming year provide the opportunity to fulfill the great calling Hashem desires for each and every one of us. Shana Tova u’Metuka!

Rabbi Leonard Cohen is the spiritual leader of Kehilat Shalom in Calgary.