Rabbi's Message

RABBI’S MESSAGE:

THE DAWN OF CONSCIENCE:

 A THOUGHT FOR THE NEW YEAR

Around this time of year, the question is raised, if the earth is more than four billion years old why, then, is Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Jewish New Year, referred to as “the day when the world was created”? Inasmuch as the Jewish calendar is less than 6,000 years old, which figure  is correct?  And the answer is, using a typical Jewish idiom, well, of course, they are both  right! The former refers to the beginning of the physical world while the latter is the time when the moral history of humanity began.

Though the earth is of a far greater age, humankind’s career as a food gatherer began only a half million years ago; then some 50,000 years ago, people began to live in caves, but it was not until the last six millennia that Humankind has begun to demonstrate a sense of responsibility to their fellow.  So it is that on Rosh Hashanah, appropriately enough, we celebrate the anniversary of the dawn of the human conscience.

In fact, in the earliest chapters of Genesis, which are all about clear moral choices and an individual’s accountability for his/her actions, the story of Cain and Abel is told.  As you will recall, after slaying his brother, Cain is asked by the Almighty, “Where is your brother?”  Cain answers, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” God then replies, “The blood of your brother cries out to Me.”  The divine answer expresses in unequivocal terms that we are indeed our brothers’ keeper.  This episode represents the first statement of conscience in recorded history and with it the beginning of the moral world.

What all this is really telling us is that in order to advance the cause of civilization, we must first learn to accept moral responsibility for our actions.  Biblical history specifically, and history in general demonstrate that when people have faith in themselves and live by a set of moral values, then the cause of humanity as a whole is benefitted.  

In the forthcoming year 5784, may the concept of being our “brothers and sisters keeper”  be embraced by all people of the earth.

Best wishes to the entire congregational family for a healthy and happy New Year.