Rabbi Carl M. Perkins 
Donald R. Lassman, President
 



Have a Good Day!



September 10, 2015
26 Elul 5775
 
Dear Friends,

At this time of year, we usually say to one another: "Shanah Tovah!"
It means, "Have a good year!"
 
I want to suggest a more modest expression to precede that. 
How about, "Yom Tov!" 

"Yom Tov!" means, "Have a good day!"
 
Why wish someone a "Yom Tov"?  Because if we focus, today, on having a good day, and then we try to do the same thing tomorrow, ... over time it may help us to have a good year.
 
But how?  How should we go out and try to have a good day?
 
Let me suggest a way:  by cultivating a sense of gratitude for life's blessings. That's all.  But it's actually a lot.  By developing gratitude, we can feel truly blessed, and if we feel truly blessed, we are likely to have a good day.

This is based on a teaching in the Talmud.  Rabbi Meir states (in Menachot 43b) that every day we should try to say 100 blessings.  He derives this from the Bible.  In Deuteronomy (10:12-13), Moses says, "Now, O Israel, what does God ask of you, other than to fear God, to walk in God's ways, to love God and to serve God with all your heart and with all your soul."  The Hebrew word for "what" in that sentence is "mah." "Mah" sounds like "meah," which means "100" in Hebrew.  So "what" does God want from us?  100 blessings each and every day. Cute, right?

Let me suggest a beautiful video that, in its own way, conveys a similar message.

It's a ten-minute TED talk featuring Louis Schwartzberg, an award-winning time-lapse photographer and cinematographer. It can be seen by clicking here.
 
If you can spare ten minutes, I believe that not only will you be more likely to have a good day, but you will also be better prepared to get the most out of Rosh Hashanah, which is coming in less than four days. (!!!)
 
Think of all the blessings that we share: the people in our lives--family, friends, colleagues--, the beauty and fecundity of nature, the miracles of modern civilization.
 
Think what it will feel like to take time away from work and your other obligations next Monday and Tuesday to sit in synagogue and contemplate your blessings. 
 
If you want to clear your head and prepare for that, take ten minutes now and watch this video.
 
And then, take the time to gather your thoughts and your intentions for the new year, ... and come to shul prepared to contemplate them. 

I'm looking forward to seeing you.
 
Let me be the first to wish you Yom Tov! and Shanah Tovah! 
 

Sincerely,

Rabbi Carl M. Perkins


Temple Aliyah | 1664 Central Avenue | Needham, MA 02492
Phone: 781-444-8522 | www.templealiyah.com