High Holy Days 5787

Preparing Our Heads and Hearts for the High Holy Days
Message from Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan, 

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley, Sun City, Arizona

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As the month of Elul draws us toward Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Judaism invites us into a season unlike any other. The High Holy Days are not simply dates on the calendar. They are an opportunity to pause, to reflect, and to ask the questions that are easy to avoid during the rest of the year: Who am I becoming? Am I living according to my deepest values? What kind of person do I hope to be in the year ahead?

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The High Holy Days begin with a message of hope. Judaism teaches that none of us is trapped by the past. We cannot change what has already happened, but we can decide how we will respond today and tomorrow. Every year offers us the opportunity to begin again.

The sound of the shofar calls us to wake from spiritual complacency. It reminds us that life is precious, time is limited, and meaningful change is always possible. While our society often encourages us to measure success by what we acquire, the High Holy Days ask a different question: Are we becoming wiser, kinder, more compassionate, and more grateful?

Yom Kippur is often misunderstood as a day devoted to guilt. In reality, it is a day devoted to growth. Judaism calls this process teshuvah—returning to the person we are capable of becoming. It asks us to acknowledge our mistakes honestly, seek forgiveness where we have caused harm, extend forgiveness whenever possible, and move forward with greater integrity and purpose.

These holy days also remind us that we do not undertake this journey alone. Gathering with family, friends, and community strengthens us and reminds us that our lives are deeply connected with the lives of others. Our relationships—with those we love, with the broader community, and with God—are renewed when we open our hearts with humility and sincerity.

At Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley, we welcome everyone who is searching for meaning, whether they attend synagogue regularly or are reconnecting with Jewish life after many years away. The High Holy Days offer an opportunity not simply to observe ancient traditions, but to discover their enduring wisdom and relevance for our lives today.

May this New Year bring wisdom, healing, compassion, and peace to you, your loved ones, and our entire community.

Shanah Tovah U’Metukah — may you be blessed with a good and sweet New Year.