A Blessed New Year

This Rosh Hashanna the weirdest thing happened. Standing in shul for the Mussaf prayer of the second day Chag, whilst waiting for the Chazan to finish his preliminary supplication on behalf of the congregation, the light from the window of the ezras nashim suddenly dimmed and the wind outside began to whip up speed. The trees started schockling and shedding their leaves and grey rainclouds gathered above.

As soon as the chazan ended his plea and the shul fell silent for Tefillas Lachash (the individual prayer said in silence) a crackling burst of thunder was heard (I kid you not - this was as powerful as any technologically rendered sound effects), the heavens the opened - quite literally - and rain began pouring down. It rained throughout the entire Shemone Esrei prayer, and came to an abrupt end at the very moment the chazan began singing for Chazaras HaShatz (the public rendition of Shemoneh Esrei).

I have lived in Israel for decades - and I cannot recall ever (and I mean ever) witnessing rain on Rosh Hashanna, let alone a downpour such as this one. The news services after the Chag reported rain around the country of 70cm in one day. Average rainfall for the entire month of September in Israel usually stands at 5cm! And whilst rain normally falls at this time of year closer to the sea coast, this time it fell, quite unexpectedly, up in the north-east around the Golan and the Kinneret - the places where we most needed rain.

What a beautiful sign of G-d's blessing for the year!

All Glitz - No Substance...?

When I was young and shopping for the New Year with my mother, there was nothing more exciting than dawdling round the pavement booths set up in Geula selling hundreds and hundreds of glittery greeting cards. I would scan the glitzy array of hummingbirds, prayer shawls, shofars and honey dipped apples agonising over which design would best convey my blessings to the world. I always ended up buying a few of each but rarely got around to actually posting them (so typical... and some habits die hard, I'm ashamed to say...).
Nowadays it is embarrasingly easy it to send out good wishes. The web is full of email greetings that can be zapped round the world in no time and that's it - the chore is done. But does anyone stop any more to think - is this what I really want to say?
How many more cheesy powerpoint presentations am I going to have to open before I receive one heartfelt message saying what a friend really feels and telling me something that is actually relevant to our relationship?
I'm not sure. But I think I'll start by posting a personal message to my friends. If I start early enough it is sure to get forwarded at least halfway round the globe and back again in time for it to re-enter my inbox before the great day of Judgement arrives. That's one definite message that will mean something to me!