Literally the head of the year

Normally, I don’t acknowledge any holidays on the blog unless I am actually taking leave from my employer. This is year is a little different. The coming year represents a time of great change for me and my family. I suppose it started with my daughter leaving home to go study at university and while this represents a huge change in my family's life, there are bigger one's coming as my sons and I are gearing up to make move which represents a complete break with our old way of living.

Today begins the start of one of the holiest days in the Jewish year – Rosh HaShanah. Unlike most holidays in the Jewish calendar it is not either a celebration or remembrance of a historical event but an ode to the ability of human being’s ability to grow and change. Today the U’netaneh Tokef prayer will be read -

On Rosh Hashanah it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed - how many will pass from the earth and how many will be created; who will live and who will die; who will die at his predestined time and who before his time; who by water and who by fire, who by sword, who by beast, who by famine who by plague, who by strangulation and who by stoning. Who will rest and who will wander, who will live in harmony and who will be harried, who will enjoy tranquility and who will suffer, who will be impoverished and who will be enriched, who will be degraded and who will be exalted.

It is common to express best wishes for the coming year and so I would like to say to all my readers.

L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem

May you be inscribed and sealed (in the book of life) for a good year.