Rabbi Russell Jayne
By Rabbi Russ Jayne
(Calgary) – Rosh Hashanah marks the first of the Ten Days of Repentance, or Aseret Yemei Teshuvah, culminating on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. During these days, Jewish communities worldwide engage in deep soul-searching, striving to repair relationships with one another, with God, and with the world. This most profound time serves as a yearly wake-up call to self-awareness, moral reckoning, and the need for transformation. It calls for an acknowledgment of past failures and the promise of future growth.
On October 7, 2023, Israel, and indeed the whole Jewish people, faced one of its darkest days in modern history. A surprise attack by Hamas militants from Gaza claimed the lives of both civilian and soldier, injured many, and left our people in a state of shock. Entire communities were devastated, hostages were taken, and the scale of the violence created a ripple of grief, horror, and fear that spread not only throughout Israel but globally, touching both Jewish and non-Jewish communities alike. This attack was not merely a military operation; it struck at the heart of civilian life, violating the sanctity of daily existence. The sheer brutality and scope of the attacks shocked the conscience of the Jewish world and forced a re-examination of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For many of us around the world, October 7th has become a symbol of renewed vulnerability, and a painful reminder of the historical threats that have consistently endangered Jewish survival.
The historical experience of the Jewish people has always been one of enduring cycles of destruction and renewal, exile and return, suffering and redemption. Rosh Hashanah may be, at its core, a celebration of life and creation, but Jewish history has often forced us to place this celebration, and far too many others, in the shadow of destruction. The events of October 7th feel too tragically familiar within our collective history, marked by a far too delicate balance between survival and the hope for peace. This deepens our sense of mourning and reflection and brings the abstract ideas of judgment and renewal so central to the High Holiday liturgy into sharp relief. The introspective question asked during the Ten Days of repentance, “How can we build a better future while acknowledging past failures?” is one we will grapple with this year in ways we might not have ever been called to do before.
One of the central prayers of both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is the Unetaneh Tokef, a prayer that highlights the fragility of life. “Who will live and who will die?” the prayer asks, in a somber reflection on the unpredictability of fate. October 7th reminded both us and the world just how precarious peace and security truly are, and how quickly life can be shattered by violence. The desire for peace, a cornerstone of the High Holiday prayers, feels more urgent now than ever.
Yet, alongside this hope for peace is the demand for justice. The Jewish tradition teaches that peace cannot exist without justice, and the events of October 7th call for both. How does one respond to an attack of such magnitude while maintaining moral clarity? How can the cycle of violence be broken when the historical wounds run so deep? These are questions that challenge the pursuit of peace not only in Israel but in every region where conflict endures.
Despite the profound sorrow that will accompany the beginning of 5785, one of the enduring strengths of our people has been our resilience. Rosh Hashanah, even in the face of tragedy, must remain a holiday of hope. The New Year is a time to envision a better future, one where peace and security can be achieved. The resilience of our people, the global Jewish community, in the wake of October 7th reflects this enduring spirit. The capacity to rebuild, to mourn but also to dream of a brighter future, is at the heart of everything the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah stand for.
Let us, therefore, approach this profound moment of reflection and introspection with an equally profound desire for renewal, and the unwavering hope for a year of peace, health, and wholeness. May the shofar’s voice serve not only as a wake-up call to self-awareness, moral reckoning, and the need for transformation, but also as an acknowledgement that the abundance and grace of our God still flows through us, will cast out our brokenness and sorrow, and will make us whole once again.
May the New Year bring renewed light for all!!
Rabbi Cantor Russell Jayne is the Rabbi and Kol bo of Beth Tzedec congregation in Calgary.
As a non- Jewish Zionist who has loved Israel for at least 60 years, I call upon everyone of Beth Tzedecs’ congregation to have a blessed Shana Tovah. We love you all and ask for G*d’s Blessing on each and everyone of the Jewish community of Calgary. My sister and I stand with you and all of Israel during these horrific times.May the renewal and dawn of the New Year be a reminder of life’s preciousness.