Cyberthought by Rabbi Zelizer -- August 12, 2010

Are You Ready for the High Holy Days?

At this time in the Jewish calendar, people will often ask me "Are you ready, Rabbi?" The inquiry refers of course, to my being prepared for the High Holy Days - referring to the rabbi's sacred responsibility to not only pray and repent for himself, but, through words and comments, to assist the laity do the same. I hope I am ready to do that. My question, though, is more daunting. Is the Almighty ready? I pray that the God of the Jewish people and of the world is "ready" for the multitude of prayers, hopes, regrets, wishes, and teshuvah, both personal and collective, which flow from the Jewish people to God.

Another challenging question - "Are you ready?" Have you done a "spiritual tune up" so you can be receptive to these grand days? Have you prepared your hearts and souls and minds to the themes of these days in this month of Elul when we Jews gradually ease into the High Holy Days? Fortunately, we live in a time when we can help to ready ourselves through the vast resources available on the internet - not to speak of books and clinics at each of the congregations and which we rabbis are happy to recommend. I hope that readiness happens in all these quarters.

Lashanah Tova Tikatevu