Author: Shlomo Bar-Ayal

We lost our Temple and independence because we did not treat each other with due respect. We did the offerings in the Temple correctly but that is not what God really wants. He wants us to show the world how to behave ethically.

We received the ability to reason, to know right from wrong. Therefore, we have to remember that we will be judged for our actions by God. All should be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year,

As we approach Rosh Hashanah, we are reminded of the need to ask forgiveness from our loved ones. We have to remember that God will not forgive us if we don’t first make it right with our fellow man.

Ha’azinu reminds us that no matter what our place is in society that God is in charge. That we forget this at our own peril. Remember the Roman Empire was the ruler of the West, until it wasn’t. We are still here.

Rosh Hashana is not the Jewish new year but the new year of the world. It is the anniversary of the creation of humans. The purpose of the world is for us to make it better by our ethical behavior.

When Moses is getting ready to leave the Jewish people, he appoints Joshua to be the new leader, not his sons. The lesson here is that our leaders do not inherit their positions but have to earn it.

One of the commandments is that once every 7 years the king is required to read the Book of Deuteronomy to the people. This is remind the king that he is also under the Torah. Everyone must hear it, even the small children to teach all the importance of the Torah.

Moses prepares Joshua to take the mantle of leadership. This is an important lesson for us. No matter how great a leader is he has to prepare the next generation otherwise all his work will crumble.

God wants us to work hard and acquire wealth, but we always have to remember that what we acquire comes from Him.

The real danger of non-belief in God is not that you will believe in nothing but that you will believe in anything, no matter how absurd it is.