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Are you ready? The Jewish year 5773 is drawing to a close and in less than two weeks (yikes!), we will be celebrating the beginning of 5774. One of the highlights of the Rosh Hashanah service for children and adults alike is the blowing of the shofar. The sound of the shofar is a call for us to gather as a people, to awaken us from our daily routines and announce the possibilities ahead. We also know that during this time of spiritual reflection, we need to consider the actions we have taken and the words we have spoken, and to ask forgiveness before we embark on the New Year.  

This week's parashah, Ki Tavo, presents a vivid picture of what the Israelites will do after they cross the Jordan River and enter Israel for the first time. After the ceremony of the first fruits, the elders of the tribes are to divide and ascend two adjoining mountains. With the people gathered in between, the Levites are to proclaim a series of curses and blessings to the people. After each curse or blessing is exclaimed, the people are to respond by saying Amen, a spoken affirmation of the responsibility of each. The response is spoken aloud so that they can hear one another, establishing a communal acknowledgement that they have a shared standard of justice.
 
The communal responsibility to justice was a core component of the new nation of Israel over three thousand years ago. It is no less a critical piece of our community today. At Rosh Hashanah, we stand together to hear the blast of the shofar and we pray together as a community, much like the Israelites when they entered their new home. We each take personal responsibility, but we do it as part of our group, as we work together for a world that will be blessed.

Shabbat Shalom.