3 Ways to Co-Create Your New Year

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Elul is here, and the eagerness to welcome the New Year is filling the air. Besides the sense of newness that “nature” so graciously gives us, including changing leaves, a crisp, cool breeze to break the summer heat, and for many, starting back in school and the post-summer grind, we also benefit from the palpable energy of spiritual renewal. On one hand, we look back on the last year with gratitude, maybe a sense of pride in our accomplishments, and our various personal “wins” made both internally and externally. On the other hand, we reflect on what we could have done differently, how we could have been better, and, although difficult to acknowledge, the times we failed ourselves or others. The potency of renewal can often be paired with a sense of regret, thus spurring the need to repent. Allow me to present an empowering way of ringing in the (Jewish) New Year, come Tishrei: co-creation with our Creator in three easy steps.

After reading an article about G-d on Rosh Hashanah being likened to Santa Clause, I found myself embarrassed by how I’ve likened the “naughty and nice list” to this reverent holiday. Are we looking at our King, and more importantly, our Father, as One who nitpicks our every action, highlighting all of our wrongs – and, if we, G-d forbid, racked up “too many naughty things”, we will be withheld “gifts” or goodness in the next year? As childish as it seems, many of us do! We carry our actions, words, and “oops moments” of the previous year like heavy weights on our shoulders, burdening the coming year with fear, anxiety, or tremendous guilt.

One might think that all they did the previous year will linger – because, according to the laws of nature, that makes sense – but we learn the following from the Talmud: On Rosh Hashanah, the first of Tishrei, God created man (and woman). The earth, filled with G-d’s many exquisite creations, held potential – but only potential – humanity, having not yet come into existence, did no good, and did no wrong¹. To have the confidence in moving forward into the year ahead, we must understand: when Rosh Hashanah occurs, it is as if nothing (of humanity) existed beforehand. It is a rebirth for us as humans – we can literally come out fresh, clean, and “perfect”. Now, does this mean we absolve all accountability and responsibilities of the previous year? Notably, it is taught that G-d only grants forgiveness to us for how we wronged Him; in whatever ways we wronged our fellow man or woman, we must take it up with him or her. With that said, once we have done our very best (in the month of Elul) to a.) introspect, b.) discover our deepest, truest, and best selves, all while c.) taking full responsibility for our mistakes (and doing what we can to change), we can move forward with a clean slate. This is what tesuhva is. The month of Elul is associated with “action”; if one wants more of Hashem in his or her life, prayer and meditation alone aren’t going to cut it – we need to do.

On Rosh Hashanah, the first of Tishrei, God created man (and woman). The earth, filled with G-d’s many exquisite creations, held potential – but only potential – humanity, having not yet come into existence, did no good, and did no wrong. To have the confidence in moving forward into the year ahead, we must understand: when Rosh Hashanah occurs, it is as if nothing (of humanity) existed beforehand. It is a rebirth for us as humans – we can literally come out fresh, clean, and “perfect”.

As previously mentioned, here is a “nice list” one can apply to co-creating her (or his) ultimate good (through simple, practical, and pleasurable actions): Step 1.) Do good. By returning to one’s innermost self (teshuvah), by attaching oneself to G‑d (tefillah) and by distributing one’s possessions with righteousness (tzedakah), one takes actions of “nature” and infuses them with the spiritual essence of what we so desire: a year both physically and spiritually connected to Hashem, goodness, and blessing². And, when it comes to our own personal desires, Elul is the time for recognizing and clarifying those just as much as! How can we possibly look forward to the year to come with good feelings, if we have neglected being real with ourselves – not only in terms of teshuva – but also our deepest desires and precious, inner-voice. Do good, and remember the good points within you.

Step 2.) Listen. As we hear the shofar roaring outside our windows this Elul, we must remember this: the King is in the Field. Before we were given the Torah at Mount Sinai, what took place? Hashem sounded the shofar, to make Himself known before our nation. Not only was He revealing Himself to us – His soon to be nation of faithful and loving servants – He was revealing Himself to each and every one of us as individual neshamot, or souls. Do you allow the sound of the shofar to pierce deeply to your heart and soul? What does it awaken in you? What does it remind you, not only as a Jew, but as an individual – a unique, one-of-a-kind person on this Earth who was given a mission by your Father in Heaven. Certainly, it should move you in one way or another – which is appropriate for the sense of Elul, according to Sefer Yetzirah, being “action”. How will you let the sound of the shofar move you this month, in preparation for what you desire in the New Year? Listen to the shofar, and listen to what it brings up in you.

Lastly, the New Year is something to celebrate. Yes, it is a day of reverence and, before its arrival, requires tremendous preparation and thought. However, remember the Jewish New Year is not like the western world’s: people get drunk, perhaps to forget about the problems behind them, and drown out the anxieties of what’s to come. Rather than taking time to introspect who one is/was, or who one hopes to be, it’s more common to set goals including weight loss, work promotions, and new material possessions one hopes to amass (with salary upgrades from the promotions). Lastly, the new year is about me, me, me – so, what happens if I don’t get what I want?

Step 3.) Connect with Who is in Charge. Rosh Hashanah is about the King of Kings – we realize that whatever is to come is for the best because the King is in charge. On Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, we understand that it is what is inside each one of us that influences the outside. We don’t want to stam (“without a specific reason”, in Hebrew) get a promotion; we want to have developed into the kind of person deserving of one based on our carefully-made character. Our individual and personal tikkun is precisely what opens doors for more opportunity, blessing, and abundance – because we put in the work, not only by meditating on and praying about the “hard stuff”, but by taking hard actions to change. Connect with Your Father and King, who is in charge of everything.
What a gift this is: we are co-creators with our Creator. We are meant to take charge and control of what we can – and ultimately, the only thing we’re truly in control of is ourselves. The more real we are with ourselves, the more realizations we can have of how to move forward in the most positive, productive, and connected way for year 5786 (the upcoming Jewish year). Being real is not about torturous self-blame and guilt, G-d forbid – it is about realizing that responsibility is a great blessing from G-d. We can truly pave the way we wish to go in life, with the help of our Loving Father (who, by the way, truly wants the very best for us, as well.)