Is there something (a person, a cause, an idea) that you want to investigate more fully?  Have you had any particularly religious or spiritual experiences this past year? Is there something that you wish you had done differently this past year? How would you have done it differently?  What is a fear that you have and how has it limited you?   Describe one thing you’d like to achieve by this time next year? Why is this important to you?

These are all deep and reflective type questions which can help you think about your life and its significance.  They are questions that require you to take a step back from your day to day activities in order to take the necessary time to answer them.  They are also questions fit for this upcoming Jewish holiday season, beginning with the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah on September 28.  According to Jewish tradition, metaphorically speaking, every new year God opens up the Book of Life on Rosh Hashanah. This gives us a clean slate to reflect on the past year, repent for our mistakes, and renew our commitments for the upcoming year.  Ten days later, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, God closes the book.  These ten days, also known as the Days of Repentence, are a gift that enables us to reflect, repent, and renew.

This year I invite you to join in this reflective process in a new and creative way.   Attend to your spiritual well being by joining the community in a new initiative for the St. Louis – 10Q, provided to you by the J.  Subscribe to this website www.doyou10q.com/stlouis and each of the ten days during this period you will be sent a thoughtful and reflective question.  It will be seen by no one except you and will be stored in a secret vault.  One year later, your answers will be shared back with you via email as part of the reflective process.   This can be done by anyone of any faith background and I promise you will find it enriching and rewarding.  Join me this year as we come together as a community to reflect, repent, and renew.

Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year

Shanah Tovah!

Rabbi Brad Horwitz