Some of my fondest memories of the High Holy Day season involve spending time with family and friends, listening to the sounds of the Shofar and the wonderful music, and enjoying apples dipped in honey and my wife’s fantastic date-filled round challah. This is also certainly a beautiful and important time of self-reflection and soul-searching. During this sacred time, Jews around the world reflect on the three major biblical principles, the Pillars: Teshuvah (Repentance); Tefillah (Prayer); and Tzedakah (Righteous Giving). While Tzedakah literally translates to “righteousness” or “justice”, most of us equate the third pillar to mean “charitable giving”. Whether you choose to satisfy your Tzedakah goals by volunteering your time or donating money to the causes and needs that are important you, this is an excellent and timely opportunity to consider what your giving priorities are. The Days of Awe are a time when we reflect upon what we have been doing versus what we should be or would like to be doing. This profound time provides the opportunity to celebrate the promise of a new year and to enter the new year with a newfound sense of purposefulness, mindfulness, and focus. When we give our time and financial resources, we can begin to correct wrongs, do good works, and redirect our actions to the betterment of our community.
