When the holiday of Rosh Hashanah arrives Jews world over will gather in houses of prayer. They will pray and ask for a new happy New Year. The familiar scenario is to repent for our misdeeds and God grants us a good year. We assume that if we promise to act better and become accountable for our actions, God will grant us a new year blessed with family, life, health and sustenance.

It's Rosh Hashanah again. The Jewish New Year arrives on Friday night, September 10th. Jews will mark their calendar year with the number 5760 since creation. Families will meet at prayer services and spend time praying to G-d for a blessed year. At least one family meal will be had with the customary apple dipped in honey symbolizing the hope for a sweet year.

In the Bible we are told the story of creation, how G-d created the world in six days. When studying creation we realize that the last creation was man. He was created last on the sixth day. It's interesting to note that the Jewish New Year celebration does not really mark the creation of the world at all. It marks the creation of man. Indeed, why doesn't the Jewish New Year, begin on the first day of creation? Why does the creation of the world take second place to the creation of man?

I remember being at my Upa's for the holiday of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. The Shul where he prayed was full of old timers from the old country. The average age was 60 plus. Most of the congregants spoke a mixture of Yiddish and Hungarian. Almost nobody spoke English. Some had their numbers tattooed on their arms.

Igor, a Russian peasant, worked in a large apple orchard. One day he came home very late, looking very disturbed and exhausted. His wife, Mary, asked him "Igor, what has happened today? Why do you look so tired and angry?

Now that another Jewish year has gone by, it's time for me to take an honest accounting. I look at my affairs. Most of my actions seem O.K. Maybe I slipped here and there, but in total I believe things are not bad. After all, G-d gave the commandments to man and not to the angels. As the saying goes, "To err is human, to forgive is divine." So I think that things will work out for a great new year.

Living in a free country where we can practice religion of our choice is one of our greatest assets. However, I am reminded of the times when this could not be done, when Jews would have to hide their religion in order to practice. Let me share a sad story I heard whilst growing up with post World War II refugees in Brooklyn, New York, New York. My teacher, a survivor, would tell us this most horrifying story.

One of the highlights during the New Year service is the sounding of the ram's horn, called a shofar. As recorded in the Bible, it is one of the oldest wind instruments used by man. The flute is the only instrument that matches it in age and is hardly ever used in a religious ceremony. The shofar's message: remember the almighty Father, the King who created heaven and earth. The shofar's blast is part of the King's coronation.

This week an extraordinary and disturbing event happened. I was driving late at night and stopped to buy gas. While I was filling up the gas tank a late model sports car pulled up and a well dressed man came out and asked me if I was Jewish. I told him yes and that I was a rabbi returning from a hospital chaplaincy call. “Why do you Jews kill innocent people?” he asked....

On Monday evening, October 3rd, Jews worldwide will gather in homes and houses of prayer to usher in the Jewish New year, called Rosh Hashanah, literally the beginning of the year. The holiday is marked by prayer, the blowing of a ram’s horn, called a shofar, and the dipping of an apple in honey, symbolic of wishes for a sweet year. A festive meal includes kosher chicken and wine, making it a special day. This is a day for repentance, an auspicious time to make new resolutions.