I had the pleasure of speaking at Olney Kehila for Rosh Hashanah services today. Below is the text of the "D'var" that I gave on a Jewish spiritual practice of naming your year as a way to determine how you will be written into the Book of Life.
During the High Holy days we tend to hear over and over that three things can "avert the harsh decree: prayer, repentance and tzedaka." But there's another action that I want to share with you all today. It's a practice that has the same roots in the Talmud, as tefilah, teshuvah, and tzedakah.
Why do we only hear about prayer, repentance, and tzedaka for the High Holy days? What happened to changing your name and conduct? That's the practice I want to talk to you all about today – naming your year.
Traditionally Judaism sees Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as a time where we throw ourselves on the mercy of the heavenly court. But what if there were another way to look at it? What if we co-create our world with the Holy One, acting as the eyes, hands, and bodies of the Holy One in the world? In that case, we can't just beg for mercy for our failings. We would need to have the courage of our convictions and ask to be written in the Book of Life. But what do you ask to be written into the Book of Life?
It's the name that symbolizes what you will do with the year, if it is granted to you. It's the word or words that names your vision of the year to come, who you want to be, and the work you want to do in the world for this one year.
So let's take a minute and see what comes to mind for you all? If you had to name your 5774, what word comes to mind for you?
You can go even bigger with this and create what is called a "Dream Decree." Take that name and really play with what it means to you, what it feels like, looks like, tastes, sounds or even smells like, and then actually write it down in some fashion. You could write it in a journal, create an altar, or create a Pinterest board of images that relate to the dream.
Changing your name, stating your dream, both only do good if they compel you to take action – change your conduct. But both of these acts have the power to help you make the change – be the change.
So how do you work this into the Days of Awe.
On Rosh Hashanah it is written.
On Rosh Hashanah you say the name, or dream the dream.
On Yom Kippur, you seal it. Write it down, paint it, dance it – whatever!
On Sukkot, you celebrate it. Find a way to work it into your Sukkah.
Each of us has a name. What name will guide you into 5774?