13 Iyar 5783 – 4 mei 2023
“Speak to the Israelites, saying: ‘You must celebrate the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month, as a day of rest. As you know, even though the months have been counted from Nisan ever since the Exodus, the years are still counted from Tishrei as they have been ever since Adam was created on this day. This holiday will therefore be known as Rosh HaShanah (“Head of the Year”). Inasmuch as the new year begins on this day, it is a day of judgment, on which I will predetermine the events of the upcoming year. Therefore, in your prayers to Me on this day, you must recite verses from the Torah that mention My remembrance of Israel and of the shofar blast required to be sounded on this day. This will recall the merit of your forefather Isaac’s willingness to sacrifice himself and how a ram—recalled by the ram’s horn you sound—was offered up in his stead. You must celebrate this day as a holy occasion that you must honor with fine clothes, special food, and appropriate prayers. [1]
There are Jewish holidays that apply only specifically to Israel and there are Jewish holidays that also have universal significance. Although Noahides are not obligated to observe these holidays, it is advisable to pay attention to them, given their importance.
One of the holidays is Rosh HaShanah because we read in Mishna Rosh HaShanah 1:2
At four times the world is judged: on Pesach for grain, on Shavu’ot for fruit, on Rosh HaShanah they all go before him like sheep of the flock, as it is written, “He forms their hearts as one, he understands all their deeds.” (Psalm 33). On Sukkot, the world is judged by water.
New Year
Reflecting During the Omer: A Time for Spiritual Preparation
Erev Rosh Hashanah this year falls on Friday evening, September 15, marking the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Although this significant event is still four months away, it is highlighted in this week’s Parsha during the period of the Omer Count.
As mentioned, the roots of this day trace back to the creation of Adam, marking both a joyous and somber occasion. It was joyous because it was the day G-d decided that humanity, starting with Adam and Chava (Eve), was essential for creation. However, it was also a sad day because Adam and Chava made a critical mistake, resulting in their expulsion from Gan Eden (the Garden of Eden) as punishment.
The Counting of the Omer: A Time of Reflection and Improvement
The Jewish commandment of Counting the Omer is a period of spiritual preparation that leads up to the celebration of Shavuot, when the Torah was given to the Israelites. This period is not only about counting the days but also serves as an opportunity for tikkun hamiddot, which involves a focused and conscious effort to improve one’s emotional attributes. Over 49 days (7 weeks of 7 days), Jews work on refining the seven emotional attributes, also known as middot.
A Universal Opportunity for Self-Improvement
Even though Noahides (non-Jews who follow the seven laws given to Noah) are not commanded to count the Omer, they too can take advantage of this time to work on their emotional attributes. The practice of self-reflection and improvement is a universal one, valuable to all people regardless of their specific religious obligations.
By embracing this time of the Omer, we can all strive to become more compassionate, understanding, and emotionally balanced individuals, ready to contribute positively to the world around us.
Birthday
We could read in the text above that for Adam his birth day and Rosh Hashana coincided. This may lead us to use our birthday as a moment of reflection as well. Your birthday is a unique day for that, because it was on the day of your birth that G-d decided that the world could not do without you. This energy that caused you to be born is also with you on your birthday. You have a unique task to accomplish in this world and what better day in the year to think about whether you are fulfilling your own personal task in this world and how you could increase or improve it. What did I do, learn and what should I try to improve in the next year.
A good habit is to say/ study your birthday Psalm. Thats the Psalm which corresponds to your new year. This is your age plus one — e.g. Psalm 25 if this is your 24th birthday.
Two practical questions
- May I receive gifts on my birthday – yes
- May I have a cake with candles – a cake is obviously delicious and belongs to a festive occasion, which your birthday certainly is. Whether you want candles on it is something you should think carefully about.
Placing candles on the birthday cake to be blown out all at once is a folk custom derived from the Greek tradition in honor of the goddess Artemis. Special cakes were baked for her in the shape of the moon. These were placed on the altar in the temple dedicated to her. If the candles were blown out all at once, Artemis would be voted well.[2]
Bear in mind that in Judaism, candles are a symbol of the soul. The last thing you want on your birthday is to “blow out your soul.” [3]
Every Day
Indeed, every morning we are “born again.” In Mode Ani – which Noahides can also pray – we pray:
Mode Ani
Hebrew:
.מודה אני לפניך מלך חי וקיים, שהחזרת בי נשמתי בחמלה; רבה אמונתך
Transliteration:
Modeh Ani L’fanecha
Melech Chai V’kayam
Shehechezarta Bi Nishmati B’chemla
Raba Emunatecha
Translation:
I offer thanks to You,
living and eternal King,
for You have mercifully restored my soul within me;
Your faithfulness is great.[2]
If the morning is such an important time and such a blessing to wake up, let’s end the day well. By forgiving others and asking for forgiveness. Reflect on your day before you close your eyes. This can be done well with the Ribono shel Olam – Master of the World [5]
Ribono Shel Olam prayer.
| Master of the World, I hereby forgive whoever has hurt me, And whoever has done me any wrong; Whether it was Deliberately or by accident, Whether it was Done by word or by deed, In this incarnation Or in previous ones. May no one, Be punished on my account. | רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם הֲרֵינִי מוֹחֵל לְכָל מִי שֶׁהִכְעִיס וְהִקְנִיט אוֹתִי אוֹ שֶׁחָטָא כְּנֶגְדִּי בֵּין בְּגוּפִי בֵּין בְּמָמוֹנִי בֵּין בִּכְבוֹדִי בֵּין בְּכָל אֲשֶׁר לִי בֵּין בְּאוֹנֶס בֵּין בְּרָצוֹן בֵּין בְּשׁוֹגֵג בֵּין בְּמֵזִיד בֵּין בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה בֵּין בְּדִבּוּר בֵּין בְּמַעֲשֶׂה. בֵּין בְּגִלְגּוּל זֶה בֵּין בְּגִלְגּוּל אַחֵר לְכָל בַּר יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא יֵעָנֵשׁ שׁוּם אָדָם בְּסִבָּתִי. |
| May it be Your will, O L~rd my G~d, G~d of my parents, That I sin no more, That I do not revert to my old ways, That I do not anger You any more by my actions, May I do not do that which is evil in Your sight. | יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי שֶׁלֹּא אֶחְטָא עוֹד וְלֹא אֶחֱזוֹר בָּהֶם וְלֹא אָשׁוּב עוֹד לְהַכְעִיסֶךָ וְלֹא אֶעֱשֶׂה הָרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ. |
| Wipe away the sins That I have committed, With Your great compassion, But not through Sickness or suffering. | וּמַה שֶׁחָטָאתִי לְפָנֶיךָ מְחוֹק בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים אֲבָל לֹא עַל יְדֵי יִסּוּרִים וָחֳלָיִם רָעִים. |
| May these words Of my mouth, And the prayers That are in my heart, Be acceptable before You, O L~rd, My Rock and my Redeemer | יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהוָה צוּרִי וְגֹאֲלִי׃ |
Let every day be a day like Rosh Hashana. A day when you are grateful for the life you have been given with a reflection at the end of the day how you did your life’s task that day.
By Angelique Sijbolts
Sources: [1] Kehot Chumash Emor , [2] Verjaardagstaart, [3] Are Birthday Candles Jewish?, [4] Mode Ani Song,
[5] Prayer of Forgiveness from the Bedtime Shema, by Rabbi Yitsḥak Luria z”l, translation by Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi
How Should We Celebrate our Birthday?
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