Today's date and time:

Sermon for Rosh Hashanah 5768
September 2007
by Rabbi Geoffrey Hyman

Some years ago I was travelling on the Green line bus to Heathrow and at that time they had a display of “Poetry on the Buses”. And so I read the piece displayed and this is what it read:
“An old man sitting behind me on the bus tapped me on my shoulder and I turned around. He said to me: "When I was a little boy I used to go with my mother to the cemetery to read the grave stones. Well one day, one caught my mother's attention. It read: “Learn to die”! Well," chuckled the old man, "that’s what I’m trying to do - learning to die!!!!"

Well, it was food for thought. The old man didn’t take the epitaph “learn to die”, to mean 'face it, you're going to die one day, so just accept it.' No - as he chuckled to the younger man - “I’m making the most of life, I’m getting around, I’m going places.” He was learning to die - by learning to live.

“Zochreinu Lechaim” - remember us for life; “Kosveinu bisefer hachayim” - inscribe us in the Book of Life”. We use these phrases throughout our prayers over Rosh Hashanah through to Yom Kippur, pleading with G-d to grant us life in this New Year.

In Judaism, life is of infinite value. We are obligated to preserve life even to the extent that where a person is absolutely near to the end of their life - we show how we care for life by not doing anything to cause them to die sooner. Life is valuable, life is sacred and life is to be cherished and respected. Apart from the three cardinal sins of murder, adultery and idolatry, one may transgress a mitzvah to save life. Our Rabbis say: “One who saves one life, it is as if he has saved a whole world.' On the other hand, it is forbidden to unnecessarily endanger one’s life - perhaps that’s why you don’t find many Jews involved in extreme sports. We take it easy - a bit of tennis, golf and of course, nothing like a nice gentle walk!!!

After the story of the great flood - described in the sidra of Noach, we read of the Dor Haflagoh - the generation of the divide. They built the tower of Babel, a mighty tall building which was to ascend high into the skies. The Midrash relates that the building became more important to them than human life. They had invented the brick which enabled them to build this tower, but their invention became more sacred to them than human life. Our Rabbis illustrate this by saying that when a brick fell and broke during the construction, the people all stopped and mourned, but when a person accidently fell from the scaffolding and died, his death was ignored!!! The brick had become sacred, not human life.

“Zochreinu lechayim” - remember us for life because we value life!!!

Is it then no wonder that we view a culture and religion which elevates the murder of their enemies as a supreme act of worship - as totally abhorrent!!! Yet we sound 100 blows on the Shofar. Why 100? Our Rabbis explain as follows, as described in the book of Judges 4:4 in the Song of Devorah. Sisera had led an army of Canaanites against Israel but was defeated by an army led by Barak and Devorah. Sisera fled on foot and was given refuge by Jael who gave him milk to drink. Whilst asleep she killed him with a tent peg. Meanwhile Sisera’s mother peered from the window sobbing; awaiting the return of her son from the battle: “Madua boshesh richvo lovo” - “Why does his chariot tarry to come? Why are the sounds of chariots delayed?” The wise women comfort her and answer, and so too she says to herself: “Halo yimtziu yechalku shollol” - “Are they not finding and dividing the booty”. But he does not return because he is dead, killed by Yael.

War happens when people stop respecting life and prefer conflict; then some human beings who revere life are forced to defend themselves. Lives are lost from both sides, both the innocent and the guilty together. But life is sacred and we remember life - and so we blow 100 sounds on the shofar to remember the mother of Sisera sobbing for her son - “vatyabev em Sisera - and the mother of Sisera sobbed. That is the value of life!!! And so we say: “Zochreinu Lechayim”.

It’s only a few days after the anniversary of 9/11 - which opened up the wider world to witness the horrific deeds of these fanatics. The world still mourns for them as we do. We remember too the horrific London suicide bombings that led to so many deaths and we are at the front of campaigning against the massacres happening in Darfur. And why? Because we hold life sacred! But whilst we mourn daily for our loses in Israel - our people who are murdered for the so called Palestinian rights, when they could have a State tomorrow - the world forgets! And now we are subjected to Boycott campaigns and accused of Apartheid. Do they not know that we have a right to defend ourselves? That suicide bombing started in Israel!!! Is our blood a different colour? Why oh why, are we so vilified?

But I ask you - what is life valued for? Noch a cruise - noch a good meal - to earn and spend? Yes we have learnt to elevate life - but perhaps we have forgotten why? People say “a bei gezunt” - as long as you’ve got your health! But what for?

Life is sacred because G-d gave it to us - “Vayipach beappov Nishmas chayim” - “He blew into the first human-being Nishmas chayim - the soul of life. “uvocharto bachayim - choose life, a theme running through the last Sidros of the Torah. Why? To keep G-d’s perfect law and to serve our Maker through Torah and Mitzvos.

The story is told of the Vilva Gaon - that on his death bed he sobbed. His disciples asked him: Rebbe, why do you cry - after all you will enter Olam Habo - the World to Come? He answered by taking hold of his Tzitzis. “I leave this wonderful world where for a few kopecks one can perform the great mitzvoh of Tzitzis,” he said. In the next world it’s finished, you can’t do any more mitzvos.

This Rosh Hashanah let us reflect on the word Chayim - life. Let us live our lives with optimism and human dignity, enhanced by the beauty of the Mitzvos. Let us remember those in suffering and those who have passed on.

Let us pray that the Almighty will give us life.
Let us pray that G-d will grant peace to Israel and to all humanity.
That speedily in our days we may witness all humanity walking in harmony with G-d and enjoying the bounty of His creation.
Bi’vas HaMoshiach, with the coming of the Messiah.
Amen, Ve-amen.