Pre-Rosh Hashanna Hope
Posted 9/1/2025
We are a people of hope. It is this strength of hope and faith that tells me that better days are yet to come.
My personal experience from the Catskills to Israel during this summer, despite the torrent of negative news regarding our people from the national and international press, I’m witnessing a continuous and vibrant growth of Jewish communities wherever I go.
The most fascinating aspect are the new and remodeled homes, religious schools, and synagogues. In Israel, and I’m still visiting on a spiritual support trip for the Israel Police, from north to south, east to west, there are thousands upon thousands of brand new apartments already built. They are surrounded within and without, with beautiful parks.
Restaurants, cafes, are filled with diners, and waiting lines.
The spirits of the police officers are very high despite the tremendous challenges they face in maintain law and order, including potential terrorist attacks.
Driving through the expanse of the inspiring Negev desert on both sides of the Jordanian and Egyptian borders, I felt very safe,and proud of being a Jew.
As the sound of the Shofar during this month of Elul-אלול echoes at the conclusion of the morning prayers, except on Shabbat, I am filled with a spiritual excitement that we are in store for more blessings.
After visiting the Tomb of Rachel in Bethlehem, filled with the voices of emotional prayers, we can all witness the prophecy of Jeremiah who spoke of hope 2,500 years ago:
“כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה מִנְעִי קוֹלֵךְ מִבֶּכִי וְעֵינַיִךְ מִדִּמְעָה כִּי יֵשׁ שָׂכָר לִפְעֻלָּתֵךְ נְאֻם יְהוָה וְשָׁבוּ מֵאֶרֶץ אוֹיֵב. וְיֵשׁ תִּקְוָה לְאַחֲרִיתֵךְ נְאֻם יְהוָה וְשָׁבוּ בָנִים לִגְבוּלָם.” (ירמיה לא, טו-טז).
15 This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
16 This is what the LORD says: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the LORD. “They will return from the land of the enemy.
17 So there is hope for your descendants,” declares the LORD. “Your children will return to their own land.”
(Jeremiah 31; v. 15-17).
May G-d bless us with Shalom-שלום for the coming year 5786 – תשפ”ו.
Rabbi Tzvi Berkowitz