In a few days, the Jewish community will be celebrating the High Holidays. Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year is celebrated on the anniversary of the first day of life for Adam and Eve. According to our tradition, Adam and Eve were the parents of all humankind. Accordingly, all human beings are essentially brothers and sisters!

During the High Holidays, it is traditional to review the past year, to applaud our successes, to analyze our shortcomings and to consider how to change them. We examine our personal life, our relationships, our attitudes, whether we were kind enough, caring enough and charitable enough. This requires much difficult work and very personal introspection.

In this article, I would like to focus on how we as a community have behaved during this past year.

It is no secret that we, as Americans have seen more strife and division than we have seen in many years. While there have always been strong disagreements on political and social issues, the arguments have never been as high pitched as now. Our country is sharply divided on many issues, where sizeable amounts of people who feel strongly one way are derided fiercely by their opponents. Each side is positive that only they are right, and anyone who disagrees with their opinion lacks in common sense and in the basic tenants of humanity. Their opponents are equally positive that only they are right. Sadly, the only thing that both sides can agree on is that their opponents are sub-human!

The Talmud tells us that just like no two humans look exactly alike, so too, no two people think alike! It is amazing that out of 7 ½ billion people, no two people look alike (even twins have minor differences in their features). This is in spite of the fact that there are very few features that are found on the face. So too, The Talmud tells us, no two people think alike.

Clearly this is the cause of all of the division in the world. When two people disagree with each other and decide to focus on their differences, rather than on their similarities, this can bring to conflict. At times the conflict is so severe that it brings to fighting and war.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, reminds us that we are all descendants of Adam and Eve, we are all family. There is much more that unites us than what divides us. Hopefully, we can teach ourselves that people can disagree on very important issues, and still be honest, rational, kind and considerate. It is possible that both sides want to do the best for humankind and yet disagree on how to do it. There may be some bad people who want to harm others, but the majority of people have good intentions and should be treated as such.

May The Almighty grant that the new year that we are ushering in, be a Happy and Healthy year full of peace and kindness. May we be inspired to respect others for their opinions, even when we are sure that we are right.

One more thing, let us commit to seek out opportunities to go out of our way to be kind to others, and especially to those whom we disagree with.

Happy New Year! B”H