By Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman

As the High Holy Days draw closer, I am filled with gratitude for so many blessings in my life: community, friendship, family love, and a Jewish tradition that offers me grounding and spiritual guidance.

As I look around the world and close to home, I also hold sorrow and anger. Over the past year, immigration authorities have snatched people off the streets and defied the rule of law. The police killing of Corey Ruiz has once again exposed our city’s deep-seated racism. Our government continues to dismantle environmental protections as the climate crisis intensifies. Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hatred have become increasingly prevalent. Across the Middle East, war and violence have brought horrific suffering to millions of people.

Some of us are navigating additional challenges: We grieve the loss of a loved one, try to help our families navigate illness and hardship, and feel uncertain about our futures. When we experience overwhelm, we are unsure how to respond. We wonder how to care for others while also caring for ourselves. We do not know how to hold onto hope when so much feels broken.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur offer us an opportunity to begin again. Jewish tradition counsels us to slow down and reflect on the year that has passed. We consider how we have fallen short, and we do teshuvah—we turn towards our best selves. We apologize to those whom we have hurt and ask ourselves who we want to become in the year ahead.

Our lives are bound together with the lives of our neighbors. Rabbi Hillel once taught, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” We cannot respond to every injustice in our world, but we can resist the desire to withdraw into ourselves. Jewish tradition calls on us to pay attention, show up, and build communities that protect the poor and vulnerable.

We gather on the High Holy Days because we need each other. We hold tight to our blessings, and we remember that we do not need to face our challenges alone. May we find the courage to live according to our values and continue to reach out to each other.

On behalf of Congregation Shaarei Shamayim, I wish the Madison Jewish community a shanah tovah—a new year filled with courage, hope, and love. All are welcome to join us for our High Holiday services and programs, both in person and online. Visit us at www.shamayim.org to learn more.