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Emerging Stronger

Liz Cabasso
Project Manager, Israel Bonds Mexico

Liz CabassoFor several days, I’ve been engaging in the cathartic exercise of answering this question: how will this first Rosh Hashanah after October 7th be different? It seems simple at first, but everything in my world has shifted since that day, and I won’t go into the details everyone is already familiar with.

My perspective is that of a humanist who strives for a world where we all enjoy freedom and autonomy. It’s really that simple.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, has always been a time of fresh beginnings. At this moment, all I truly want is to emerge from this war, better and stronger. I crave an end to the overwhelming uncertainty that clouds our future.

Unfortunately, we’ve come to the harsh realization that we live in a world where evil seems unstoppable. In reflecting on this, I’m reminded of Freud’s words, written during another period of immense upheaval: "The war shattered our exalted scientific calm, exposed our instinctual lives in their rawest form, and unleashed the dark spirits we thought had been tamed by centuries of moral education." This war has similarly shown us how fragile our world can be. It has closed us off, shrinking the horizons of our homeland, and made the rest of the world seem distant and vast. We’ve lost so much of what we held dear, and it has revealed the fragility of what we once believed was stable.

I wish for everyone to find comfort during these incredibly difficult times.

In this sacred period, we reflect on the past year, seek forgiveness, and set our intentions for the future. Today, more than ever, it’s a time to embrace our loved ones and live the sweetness of this holy day every day of the year. It’s a time to acknowledge our pain while celebrating the resilience and hope that shines through, even in the darkest of moments.

The round challah, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life, and the sweet apples dipped in honey, representing our wishes for peace and sweetness, take on a deeper meaning this year.

Rosh Hashanah is about renewal and the strength to move forward. This year, as we navigate our way through the shadows cast by recent events, the essence of Rosh Hashanah-of reflection, hope, and community-feels more vital than ever. It’s a reminder that even in times of great challenge, we find strength in our traditions and in each other.

Let’s hold close the hope for a year of peace and healing. May the new year bring renewed strength and brighter days ahead for all.

 

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A Deeper Sense of Community and Responsibility.

Michael Grauss
Managing Director, Israel Bonds Germany

Michael GraussAs Rosh Hashanah approaches this year, I find myself in a vastly different mental and emotional space than ever before. The events of October 7th have cast a shadow that is impossible to ignore, altering how I view the world, my faith, and the rituals that once brought me comfort.

October 7th marked a day of profound loss and upheaval. Whether directly impacted or not, the collective trauma of that day is something every Jewish person carries with them. For me, it has been a time of grappling with grief, fear, and a renewed understanding of vulnerability. This Rosh Hashanah, the usual anticipation of a fresh start is tempered by the lingering pain of recent events.

In previous years, Rosh Hashanah was a time to focus on personal growth and introspection, a celebration of life and new beginnings. But now, the memories of those lost and the anxieties about an uncertain future make it difficult to embrace the holiday with the same joy. The shofar's call, which once stirred feelings of renewal and hope, now also resonates with the sorrow and urgency of these times.

Despite the heaviness in my heart, this Rosh Hashanah feels more important than ever. The sense of community has grown stronger in the face of shared adversity. The support, solidarity, and resilience of those around me have been a source of strength, reminding me that even in the darkest times, we are not alone.

This year, the holiday is not just about my personal journey but also about our collective one. There’s a heightened sense of responsibility to contribute to the healing process, to be there for others, and to work towards a future where such tragedies are not repeated. The prayers for peace, which have always been a part of the Rosh Hashanah service, now carry a weight that is both immediate and profound.

While the grief and pain of October 7th are still fresh, Rosh Hashanah also brings with it a chance to find hope. It is a reminder that life continues, that we must honor the memory of those we’ve lost by living fully and with purpose. The themes of renewal and repentance take on a deeper meaning, as I reflect on how to move forward, both personally and as part of a larger community.

This year, as I dip the apple in honey, the sweetness is bittersweet. It is a reminder that life is a mix of joy and sorrow, and that we must strive to find balance even when the scales tip heavily toward the latter. The symbolic acts of the holiday-casting off sins into the water, listening to the shofar, and sharing meals with loved ones-are more than traditions; they are acts of defiance and resilience.

As I approach this Rosh Hashanah, I do so with a heart full of mixed emotions. The events of October 7th have changed me, and the holiday will not be the same. But perhaps that is okay. This Rosh Hashanah will be a time to honor those changes, to acknowledge the pain, and to find ways to move forward with intention.

In the face of such profound loss, the act of gathering with loved ones, of praying, of hoping for a better year, feels like an act of courage. It is a way to affirm life, to seek meaning, and to remind ourselves that even in the darkest times, the possibility of renewal remains.

This Rosh Hashanah will be different, and I will be different. But in that difference, there is also the potential for growth, for healing, and for finding a new path forward. May we all find the strength to embrace it.

 

Photo by Alexandra Wieser

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Rocha Hachana 5785 L’année De L’espérance Et De L’unité

Elizabeth Cohen
Senior Business Development

Elizabeth CohenRoch Hachanah, jour de l'anniversaire de la création de l'homme et de bilan personnel, mais aussi Yom Hadin, jour du jugement, aura une résonnance particulière cette année. Depuis les massacres de nos frères et sœurs le 7 octobre 2024, notre humanité est soumise à rude épreuve. Nous sommes quotidiennement traversés par des émotions fortes.

Un an de stupeur, de désarroi, d’incompréhension, d’anxiété, de peur, de tristesse, de dégout. Mais aussi un an d’espérance, d'amour, de joies de voir les juifs du monde entier s'unir pour défendre Israël. Un an de fierté de voir le courage des soldats, la solidarité, la générosité, la créativité et la résilience de notre merveilleux peuple.

Jeunes et moins jeunes ont répondu présent en Israël et en diaspora. Chaque juif s’est senti devenir un acteur indispensable à la survie d'Israël.

Personnellement, travailler pour Israël bonds m'a permis de me sentir plus utile que jamais et j'ai eu la joie de rencontrer de très belles personnes toutes soucieuse de soutenir Israël et de devenir ambassadrices Israël bonds. Ce Roch Hachanah je laisserai une chaise vide à notre table comme je le fais tous les Chabbat, et je dirai à mes invités que, au-delà de la joie de nos retrouvailles familiales, nous sommes aussi devant le tribunal céleste et que l’on doit s’engager envers D.ieu sur des changements de comportement, que ce qui est arrivé nous oblige vis à vis de nos chers frères disparus et de ceux encore détenus, que nous devons nous donner de l’amour, incarner les valeurs juives, défendre Israël et riche de nos différences, toujours restés UNIS.

Chana Tova Oumetouka

Am Israël Haï

 

Rosh Hashana 5785: A year of Hope and Unity

Elizabeth Cohen
Senior Business Development, Israel Bonds France

 

Rosh Hashanah, a day for personal reflection and the celebration of the creation of humanity, as well as the Day of Judgment, Yom HaDin, holds special meaning this year. Since the October 7th massacres, our humanity has been continuously attacked and put to the test. Every day, we experience difficult and intense emotions.

This past year was filled with shock, dismay, disbelief, anxiety, fear, sadness, and disgust. But it was also marked by hope, love, and profound joy in witnessing Jewish people around the world unite in defense of Israel. It brought deep pride in the bravery of our soldiers and in the solidarity, generosity, creativity, and resilience of our amazing people.

Both young and old stepped forward in Israel as well as in the diaspora, and every Jew felt they played an essential role in the survival of Israel.

Personally, working for Israel Bonds has allowed me to feel more useful than ever before. I am fortunate to meet amazing people who share the same desire to support Israel and become ambassadors for Israel Bonds. On Rosh Hashanah this year, I'll keep an empty seat at the table like I do every Shabbat and tell my guests that beyond the joys of family reunions, we also stand before the heavenly courts and must commit to G-d to change our behaviors. What has happened obliges us to remember our dear brothers who died and those who are still held hostage in Gaza. We must, more than ever, love one another, embody Jewish values, defend Israel, and remain united.

Shana Tova Umetukah  
Am Yisrael Chai

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A Rosh Hashanah of Resilience and Unity

Eyla Benedykt
Israel Bonds Representative, Brazil.

Eyla Benedykt As Rosh Hashanah 5785 (2024) approaches, we are still haunted by the impact of the tragedy on 7th October 2023. This year's high holidays will be profoundly different-immersed in grief yet infused with an unshakable sense of resilience. In the face of such unimaginable loss, our community has demonstrated extraordinary strength, uniting in ways that display the profound power of unity and solidarity.

Rosh Hashanah is a time for reflection and renewal, but this year it takes on a new and deeper significance. The shofar's call will not only echo the personal journeys we each face but also our shared responsibility to heal, support, and rebuild.

Many of us will light a memorial candle for those who were brutally taken from us-a tradition we will continue in solemn tribute to their memory as a beacon of our enduring love for them.

As Rosh Hashanah approaches, we are also drawing nearer to Sukkot and Simchat Torah, the very festival when the attack occurred and shattered our lives. The darkness of those days still casts a long shadow, yet with the arrival of these festivals, we reaffirm our resolve to rebuild and unite despite the pain. While the massacre has left deep, enduring scars, it has also revealed the unbreakable bond that ties the Jewish people together.

As we come together, we honour those who were taken from us by living with renewed purpose, unwavering hope, and a steadfast commitment to a future of peace. Our resilience is a testament to the unyielding spirit of our people, and as we step into this new year, we do so with prayers for all the hostages to be released immediately.

Shaná Tová Umetuka.

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The Journey of Renewal Rooted in Tradition

Joe Ozer
Executive Director, Israel Bond UK

Joe OzerThis year, Rosh Hashanah falls on a new painful time of year for the Jewish community. Every year, my family gets together on Erev Rosh Hashana – our New Year’s Eve and we conduct a very Sephardic traditional reciting of prayers and blessings over different foods. This Rosh Hashana Seder is reminiscent of the Passover Seder – although just a fraction of the length and let’s face it, the food afterwards is miles better!

Each item is symbolic of specific dreams and wants for the new year. Everyone knows about the apple in honey and the pomegranates – but one of the items we use for this seder really sticks out this year, the chives. The ceremony and symbolism associated to the chives is that we rip them up, tearing them up into small pieces to represent those who want to destroy us or do us harm.

This year, as we congregate at home, just as we did at Passover, there will be an empty chair at our table. it will be there to honour any one of the 101 remaining hostages still being held against their will in the tunnels of Gaza, and It will remind us of the importance of ripping up those chives.

It will leave a bitter taste to an otherwise sweet holiday – but it’s the most important taste we have to experience this year. It’s been a very difficult year for all our communities in Israel and in the diaspora, but it’s these traditions and symbolic acts that bring us closer together and secure the Jewish people

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