New Year’s Day and the traditional resolutions that accompany it invite us to take stock of our lives. Are we living our lives to the fullest?
Usually, we speak about resolutions during The High Holidays, this is the time in our lives when we typically reflect on the previous year while making resolutions for the year ahead. 2021 has been challenging and different in many ways. We never imagined a virtual world, but here we are striving not to lose sight of the important parts of our lives. We need spirituality, we need to connect and engage, and we need to be together safely. Who could’ve imagined it would be a whole year of us doing all of the above online, again? I certainly did not. Yet, it has brought about so many beautiful opportunities to connect far beyond our reach in Johannesburg and we now proudly boast a congregation reaching members as far as Australia, USA, United Kingdom, and – more locally – Cape Town and Durban too. I am grateful.
In the new year, we can expect change. It is inevitable in life. Let us pray that God grants us the strength and grace to take our challenges and turn them into learnings and opportunities to grow from them. Just like Rachel and Leah did with Jacob. As they say, after all, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
I look forward to seeing you all soon. Be sure to check out our new service dates here and please engage and stay in touch with us on Facebook here in between.
For those celebrating, I wish you a happy new year and may it be one of joy, love and kindness to all. I leave you with a hopeful poem with my fondest regards.
Rabbi Julia Margolis
God of time and space
You’ve granted me moments and breaths,
Life like a river, rapids and flats
Deep narrow canyons and bright open skies,
Thundering, churning waters and calm gentle flows.
A life of beauty and wonder beyond my understanding, beyond my wildest dreams.
And yet,
And still, Heavenly Redeemer,
You also give me choices.
To live in grief or joy, fear or awe, tears or laughter.
To lift my life in glory and radiance,
A shining light of kindness and love.
– For the New Year, by Alden Solovy 2017.
