Hi,

Here’s a Rosh Hashanah thought.

There’s challah dipped in honey. Apple and honey.

And there’s also a custom to eat a pomegranate.

Before eating it, we say a prayer, “May it be G-d’s will that our merits are as plentiful as

the seeds of a pomegranate.”

We seem to be asking G-d to give us many merits.

But there’s a problem with that.

Because that’s not how it works.

G-d doesn’t give us merits.

We have to earn them.  By choosing to do the right thing.

… Here’s one idea.

We know that we have many failings.  Have made many mistakes.

But hopefully, we’ve done some good things as well.

So we say to G-d, “ I know we’ve messed up.  But please overlook those things.

And focus on our good points.”

… Do we have a right to ask that of G-d?

Well, it depends.

On how we deal with other people.

If we always focus on their shortcomings?

And especially, if we talk about them by saying loshon hora, gossip?

Then we have no right to ask G-d to focus on our good points.

But if we do focus on other people’s good points?

Then we can ask G-d to do the same for us.  

… There’s a fascinating statement in the Talmud.

It says “ Even a person that seems empty of Mitzvos, of good deeds?

Is really full of them like the seeds of a pomegranate”!

That if we look really hard?

We’ll find good in every one.

… So we take the pommegranate.  Think of this message.

Then we can ask G-d to do the same to us.

And focus on our good deeds.

… We only spend a Minute A Day together.

But I hope you find it to be “quality time”!

I look forward to wrapping up Genesis soon!

Wishing you, and all the special people in your life, a Shana Tova,