Barukh she’amar vehaya ha’olam—Blessed is the One who spoke, and the world came into being.
Rosh Hashanah celebrates the birthday of the world through words. But we also recognize during these Yamim Nora’im, these Days of Awe, that words can create both good and bad, indeed that words can also destroy. Indeed, many of the sins we recite in the confessional prayers are about words: Al cheyt shechatanu lefanecha bedibur peh…betifshut peh… bechachash uvechazav, birchilut — for the sins we have sinned against you by the words of our mouths, by careless speech, by lies and deceit, through gossip and rumor.
And then we pray that we will be written and sealed into the book of life for the coming year. Words matter. Words count!
We act when we speak — we may act leshem ra, for the sake of evil, creating negative experiences for ourselves and others, or we may act leshem tov, for the sake of good, creating positive experiences for ourselves and others. Let us reflect on our past words and be mindful of our new words as we enter a new year.
As we enter into these holy days together, I look forward to meeting you, to sharing words with you, to hearing and knowing you through your words.
Rabbi Sarah Niebuhr Rubin
Erev Rosh Hashanah Havurat Ee Shalom
15401 Westside Hwy SW
Vashon Island, WA 98070 Sunday, September 9
6:30pm – Gather & Sing
7:00 – 8:30pm – Evening Service
Contribute Online
-----------------
Thriftway Rebate
Click the receipt to learn how your shopping can support the Havurah -----------------
Newsletter Archive
Click the file cabinet to access the last 20 newsletters
rates the birthday of the world through words. But we also recognize during these Yamim Nora’im, these Days of Awe, that words can create both good and bad, indeed that words can also destroy. Indeed, many of the sins we recite in the confessional prayers are about words: Al cheyt shechatanu lefanecha bedibur peh…betifshut peh… bechachash uvechazav, birchilut — for the sins we have sinned against you by the words of our mouths, by careless speech, by lies and deceit, through gossip and rumor.
