To Rejoice in the Repair

Rav Kook likens the labor of the soul that we do in the Days of Awe to the work of agriculture. There are times and aspects that are difficult. The plowing of repentance, the tilling, the clearing of stones, the sowing in tears – all of these are the work of repentance that we do. But alongside this, the Rav reminds us that there is also a harvest. There is produce, and there is a reward for our labor and our repair. We open the year with prayers, with judgment, with soul-searching, and, the day after Rosh Hashanah, also with a fast. As part of the outlook of Judaism and its being a religion of repair.

*

Let us pray for the success of our soldiers everywhere, and for a good and sweet year!