Shana Tova uMetuka - Blessings For A Good & Sweet New Year From The Temple Institute!
Elul 29, 5786/September 11, 2026
"And HaShem G-d formed man of dust from the ground, and He breathed into his nostrils the soul of life, and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7) Rosh HaShana is the anniversary of the day that HaShem G-d first breathed the divine breath of life into Adam, the father of us all. This same heavenly breath informs each and every one of us. It is the breath of love, the breath of knowledge, of compassion, of friendship, of freedom and of responsibility.
Each year, on the anniversary of Adam's creation, we are commanded to stand before G-d and report on how we are living up to the great gift of life that G-d breathed into us. Am I the person that G-d intended me to be when He first imbued within me the unique breath of my soul? Am I living up to the potential that G-d believes I possess? Am I fulfilling the unique purpose of my existence in G-d's world?
Lest we become overwhelmed by the vastness of these questions we should know that Rosh HaShana isn't simply a time to take stock of our lives up to this moment. Rosh HaShana is a clarion call to step into the new year filled with the determination to truly become that person we are meant to be. To truly live up to our potential and to truly discover and pursue our unique purpose on earth.
The same breath that G-d first breathed into our soul is the breath that sounds the shofar, the central commandment of Rosh HaShana, "a day of sounding the shofar for you." (Numbers 29:1) The wordless voice of the shofar is the inexpressible prayer on all our lips, too deep and too great to be rendered into words. We are commanded not only to sound the shofar but to listen to the shofar. To make our wordless prayer and to hear it, and to follow its message all throughout the days to come. In the wordless, yearning blast of the shofar is a script that is ours to write in the upcoming new year. May we all write ourselves in the Book of Life.
The same breath that G-d first breathed into our soul is the breath that sounds the shofar, the central commandment of Rosh HaShana, "a day of sounding the shofar for you." (Numbers 29:1) The wordless voice of the shofar is the inexpressible prayer on all our lips, too deep and too great to be rendered into words. We are commanded not only to sound the shofar but to listen to the shofar. To make our wordless prayer and to hear it, and to follow its message all throughout the days to come. In the wordless, yearning blast of the shofar is a script that is ours to write in the upcoming new year. May we all write ourselves in the Book of Life.
The Temple Institute extends our wishes for a good and sweet new year for all our friends and followers, our faithful supporters, the entire house of Israel and all who befriend the nation of Israel and trust in the unbound goodness of the G-d of Israel. May we all be blessed with health and happiness, prosperity and peace. Shana Tova uMetuka - a good and sweet year for all!
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