Tomorrow night is a new year.  Tomorrow night all of the energy allotted to the universe for the past year will have been spent and the  world will be a sapped and hollow shell.

In order for G-d to invest another year's worth of energy into this project called creation, He will have to be extremely motivated.  He must be overcome with passion.  What elicits G-d's desire to create?

The prospect of union, of an intimate bond with His other half.

If we tell G-d that we want to have a committed and exclusive relationship with Him for another year, then He's willing to create the world in which that can happen.

Rosh HaShanah is not so complicated.  It's a simple day on which we are asked a simple yes-or-no question.  "Are you in or are you out?"

If we say "in" then G-d's passion to create is ignited.  The ball is in our court.  We know what G-d is hoping for.  He's waiting for our answer.

Rosh HaShannah is the day on which the Infinte reveals His vulnerability -- the romantic hope for a blissful union with His people, Israel.

Things have been hectic and I haven't posted in a while.
During that last month of the year, it's hard to concentrate on business as usual.  Indeed, the whole point of gearing up for the new year is to try and see to it that things should not be the same old same old next year.

At any rate, I heard a "vort" from a chasid today.  He told me that the numerical value of "shanah tovah" (a good year) is the same as "tov hanira v'hanigla" (revealed and obvious good.)  The reference is to the chasidic concept that everything that happens is good.  Only, there is good that is obvious and good that is hidden.  While hidden good is actually a more lofty and sublime form of good than obvious good, we mortals nonetheless wish each other the kind of good which we can see.

I haven't checked the sums to make sure that they add up but I invite you to do so and let me know if it works out.