How not to honor YisraEL's New Year!

As many are coming into a knowledge of who they are it is imperative for new adherents (and even veterans in the culture) to the way of YisraEL to become aware of the distinctions between our new year and the new year of the systems we've been living within. The hope is that we by this quick check list we become acquainted and more engaged with HIS ways.

• Resolutions

Look to Yom Ha Khipurriym (The Day of Atonement) and remember the process you went through in order to come through that point in time, and enter The Feast of Sukkoth free to celebrate and enjoy - filled with true joy. How have you held up since then? The thing you told your Maker that you would stay away from - have you backslided? Have you returned to your old way(s)? Have you kept the behaviors that put your peace and life at risk? In YisraEL, Ha Shanah (The New Year) is an opportunity to revisit the period leading up to Yom Ha Khipurriym and to double back if needed to keep the path ahead clear. Our "resolutions", if we want to use that term, were made back in Yom Ha Kipurriym (Lev 23:27-28). By the time of Ha Shanah we should be in full stride pushing forward.

• Party Like It's 1999

Everything has its place! Yes we should be excited, as it's a new Kodesh (month) and our culture (see Tehilliym & YekezkqiEL) allows for celebration and jubilation at these times, but we have work to do and must keep our eyes on the prize. Not only is it Rosh Ha Shana (The New Year), it is also Rosh Kodesh (a new month), and Rosh Kaudaushiym (Head of the months). For us...a triple whammy! It's also prelude - a countdown - if you will to Pesak (Passover) and Kag HaMatzoth (The Feast of Unleavened Bread). So celebrate, blow the shofar, eat and be merry with your family, but do it in righteousness and beauty.

• Go back to business as usual.

So you reflected on Yom Kippur and wrote in your notebook the challenges you promised in your heart that you would overcome - but Pesak came and went and you never put it into action. You did not take advantage of the moment afforded you by these set apart times, whether it is before sundown and the beginning of a new day, weekly at the seventh day shabbat, monthly at Rosh Kodesh, or annually at Rosh Ha Kaudaushiym. These days are marked as checkpoints for YisraEL to draw closer to The Eternal.

• Hold on to old grudges

Once Yom Kippur ends some forget the essence of the way of YisraEL is relationship work. And unfortunately we make promises on Yom Kippur and continue with gossip and hatred once the sun goes down on the 10th day of the 7th Kodesh. The new year provides us with an opportunity to try new ways of improving our relationships. Maybe an old strategy did not work. Maybe new offenses have taken place. We should ask ourselves - what work can we do internally to prepare ourselves to repair our relationships? We should also ask ourselves what we need to do to squash old grudges - including possibly bringing in righteous individuals to mediate the conflict if necessary. If relationships are not beneficial the one that knows the most and has the most wisdom would be direct in their effort to bridge the gap, not figure out ways to ignore it, sweep it under the rug, or address it so indirectly that the effort is lost. Intentionality is key.

• Binge

Not eating bread or products with leavening in them is challenging, but over eating or over indulging with hopes of gorging ourselves with these products before Pesak is not helpful to anyone. One, it could be dangerous and detrimental to your physical health. Two, it could dampen your observance of The Eternal's set apart days. We want to enter into these days focused and prepared to receive whatever message HE or HIS conveys to us. We want to be at optimal health. So yes...try not to stock up on extra loaves of shabbat lekem (bread). Try to avoid cramming the last three seasons of Power in before the sun goes down on the 12th. Try instead to use the days preparing your mind, body, and spirit to enter into HIS days ready and willing to be used. Maybe do a cleanse? Maybe have an open forum with the family on how best to prepare? Maybe start securing the items for the festivities?

Pesak is in less than 2 weeks. So as we look towards the time commemorating our freedom from psychological and physical captivity we have work to do to bring ourselves to a place that is pleasing in the eyes of The Eternal. We celebrate the new season. We also express our gratitude to YAH YisraEL for another set apart time to regain and reclaim our way to get closer to HIM. This is real life practice for a time to come! I pray that we all take advantage of the time granted to us. HalleluYAH! HalleluYAH! HalleluYAH!

Peace be to you. Peace be to your house. And peace be unto all that is yours!

Bn Shmû ÉL is a loyal son, committed father, founder of HaDBR Media, Chief Editor at Bn Shmû ÉL  Publishing House, and author of The Land of Milk and Honey: The Heart of the World. https://www.bn-shmu-el.com/shop .