"US Congress closed for Rosh Hashanah"
That got me 24,300 hits on Google with 947 google news articles...
I guess rabbis don't get the perks that our congressional reps do - I know that I for one had to be at work on Rosh Hashanah...
The present onslaught of crises facing us, at home in Israel from the Kassams to the Knesset, and in the US of A from Washington to Wall Street, leaves us rabbis - your Pulpit Pals - with one problem; which one do we address first?
While thank G-d I am blessed with a home, food, car and a job, and I know - from personal experience - that there are many others who can't say the same.
- During this New Year we were able to truly appreciate the concept of "Hayom Harat Olam" - "Today the World Trembles."
But is that it?
For the US Congress that meant a day off from work - but for the rest of us?
This Shabbat is commonly known as "Shabbat Shuva" - the "Shabbat of Repentance" reflecting the opening words of the prophet in this weeks Haftorah "Shuva Yisrael ad Hashem Elokecho" - Return oh Israel...
Quite appropriate for the week between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur...
But there are some very specific Mitzvas listed in the Parsha as well that can help us reach that goal of Shuva - Return.
Calling Congress back to session is one of them. Well, not exactly but almost...
"Hakhel Et Ha'am" - "You shall gather the people."
Only here it's not elected politicians that we gather together - it's everyone "Ho'Anoshim, Noshim VeHataf" - Men, Women and Children;
Once every seven years, following the Sabbatical, the entire Nation would gather in the Beit Hamikdsh on the Temple Mount for "Hakhel" the gathering of the people to hear the State of Nation address.
Though, instead of hearing the President deliver poetry and policy, they would hear the King review the Torah's message - where the State of the Nation should be.
It is no coincidence that this year, as the world faces shocking levels of personal and global challenge, that we are entering the year of Hakhel; 5768 was a Sabbatical and this year 5769 is Hakhel - calling us together.
It is a moment when we we aim to recreate Sinai, when we were united by a common goal and purpose with a collective Divine strength; to take our first steps as the nation we were to become in the milennia ahead and the challenges our destiny would bring.
And who is the King today?
You and I.
Every one of us can be a leader, to inspire others with the message of the Torah that remind us that we are bound to a higher cause and a divine mission.
We can and should find the confidence and leadership, whether at a dinner table, lunch room at the office, out with friends for drinks or any other setting - and even a special gathering in honour of Hakhel - we'll definitely be having that this year too!
We can bring that message of faith and conviction and inspire ourselves and those around us to live by those ideals.
So no, we won't really be taking off this year, not on Rosh Hashana morning, or Yom Kippur evening - not on Shabbat morning or Wednesday mid day.
This is a year that we'll be commerating Hakhel, the collective strength of the unity of the Jewish people and invoking the power G-d has invested in us through living a lifestyle permeated with the study of Torah and observance of Mitzvot (including - of course - being in Shul instead of the office on Shabbat and Jewish holidays...).
And you know, it may be a mission we are bound to 365 days a year (even Rosh Hashanah) but still, now that I think about it - I don't feel so bad that I'm not a US Congressman...
Wishing you a Shabbat of Tshuva through Unity - with yourself and those around you,