Rosh Hashanah for Josie and Jessie

Connie Dunn, DRE
First Universalist Society
Franklin, MA

Josie and Jessie were twins. They were Unitarian Universalists, but their father had grown up in a Jewish household. And though they went to the UU Church, their father wanted them to understand their Jewish heritage.

Josie and Jessie rolled their eyes when Father said, "The UU faith has Judeo-Christian roots…" They knew when he said this there would be a lesson that followed. Their mother gave them a stern look and both twins became more attentive.

Father continued to inform them that Rosh Hashanah was an important Jewish holiday. "When I was a little boy," Father said, "we would go to the synagogue and pray. There would be lots of silent thinking and loud blasts from the shofar. Do either of you remember what a shofar is?"

Josie and Jessie both spurted out, "It's a ram's horn that makes a loud horn sound when you blow through it."

Father was delighted that they remembered. He continued telling them about the wonderful apples and honey that his mother would prepare and all the friends and family that would gather at their house for Rosh Hashanah. The apples and honey represented their desire for a sweet new year.

"Father," said Jessie, "but why is Rosh Hashanah so important? Isn't it like New Year's Eve only done at church…um…the synagogue?"

"No!" said Father. "Rosh Hashanah is more than merely celebrating a new year."

"I thought it was about celebrating the start of school!" said Josie. "It is always close to when we begin school each year."

"It's about stopping and taking an inventory of who we are," said Father. "It isn't about the start of school, but it goes well with that because each year you start new in a new grade and have to think about what you know and how you are going to interact with your friends."

Jessie said, "I don't do that. My friends are the same every year."

Father added, "But are you the same?"

"What do you mean, Father?" asked Jessie.

"Not only do you grow physically and mentally, you also grow spiritually every year," said Father.

"I do?" questioned Jessie.

"Yes, of course you do. What is our first UU Principle?" asked Father.

"To respect each person," said Jessie.

"To believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person," said Josie.

"Exactly," said Father.

"But Father, what does inherent worth and dignity mean?" asked Josie.

"That every person deserves our respect, because they are human," said Father. "How do you use this in your life?"

Both Josie and Jessie were silent for a very long time.

Finally, Jessie said, "Well, when my friends start picking on someone, I tell them it isn't right and make them stop. Then, I try to be friends with the person that was being picked on."

Josie nodded her agreement.

"Well," said Father. "Rosh Hashanah is about examining your life to see if your personal standards match the teachings and commandments of the Jewish tradition. The sounds of the shofar are to wake us up and remind us that living our faith is important."

Josie pointed out, "But, Father, we are Unitarian Universalists, not Jewish. How can Rosh Hashanah be our tradition?"

Father laughed and said, "That's easy. Our Principles and Purposes are very much like the teachings and commandments of the Jewish tradition. If you live your life by these principles, I think the God of the Hebrews will smile upon you."

Josie and Jessie looked confused. Jessie asked, "But what if I don't believe in the God of the Hebrews?"

Father smiled and answered, "God is a hard concept to understand. There are a lot of definitions, because so many people use God to represent anything sacred and holy or divinely mysterious, which is not the same for everyone. UUs often refer to this concept as Love, Universe, or Creative Power."

"Do you think it would be like the light in the chalice?" Josie asked. "Because I think of that light as a light that burns inside of me, like in my heart. And when I do something that isn't good, that light gets a bit dimmer. And when I do something good, the light gets brighter."

"Yes, Josie," said Father. "I think that is exactly what the God concept is."