Rosh Hashonah 5770 day1,  Torah Introduction
by Andrea Kissel

As I read through today’s torah portion, I began to think about why we read this particular portion on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. The themes that kept standing out were those of "prayers" and "promises."

Prayers and Promises…how wonderful life would be if it were that easy! Say a prayer to G-d, receive a promise in return. A child wishes over birthday candles, blows away an eyelash, throws a coin in a fountain – it’s a pattern we have become accustomed to. But when we pray, do we feel sorry deep down for what we have done wrong? Do we believe from within our heart that we will truly try to change? The torah portion we will read today tells us that yes, we can repent for our past sins. There is always hope. The key is self-reflection and sincerity—making a plan to become better, to change yourself, and thus the world around you.

In previous torah readings, Sarah prays to G-d for a child and in this Rosh Hashanah portion, G-d fulfills this promise to a ninety year old Sarah with the birth of Isaac. The very first line translates "The Lord took note of Sarah as He had promised, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken." When Abraham struggled with Sarah’s demands to exile Hagar and Ishmael, G-d promises Abraham that he will make a nation for Ishmael and not to worry. When Ishmael lay crying from starvation, G-d heard his cry and sent an angel to Hagar telling her to hold him by the hand and G-d will save him and make a great nation for Ishmael. And as G-d promised, a well of water appeared in front of Hagar and G-d stayed with Ishmael as he grew.

One of the reasons Sarah demands the exile of Ishmael and Hagar is because of Ishmael’s mistreatment towards Isaac. However, the expulsion of Ishmael and Hagar elicit sympathy within us because we realize that we too have taken similar steps as Ishmael and Hagar and done wrong in our past. As we make our own promises to G-d, we pray G-d will remember us even as we remember how we have treated others. And just like G-d fulfilled his promise towards Ishmael and Hagar, he will forgive us for our sins if we are sincere in our prayers for forgiveness. Our past is not perfect, and our future will be filled with imperfections, but if we are sincere now, in this moment while we pray to g-d and ask him for forgiveness, then he will hear us, and grant us forgiveness.

As Rosh Hashanah begins, the book of judgment opens. It is now our time to pray to g-d for forgiveness for our sins. We have 10 days to truly connect with g-d, knowing that our prayers are heard. We pray for G-d’s forgiveness for all our sins and as we have learned from this torah portion, G-d will fulfill his promises and forgive us for these sins.

Because we live in a secular society, we usually don’t appreciate the importance of prayer as often as we should. And sometimes it takes a significant event to make us realize just how powerful prayer is. A little over a month ago, while in Israel with my family, I myself came to this revelation.

Our trip to Israel was centered around my cousins wedding in Tel Aviv. Her wedding is a day I will never forget – precious time with family, endless dancing and smiling, witnessing a commitment of love. However, the day before her wedding I witnessed something that will remain with me forever. Our family took the day to visit the Kotel to pray to G-d for a happy and healthy marriage, as well as other meaningful prayers.

While approaching the Kotel, I whispered to my mom that I wanted to make a special prayer, not knowing the next time we would be back to the Kotel, but I couldn’t think of anything so powerful that I wanted to pray to G-d for. No sooner than I said this did I realize that not having something so significant to pray for made me one of the fortunate ones at the Kotel.

As I looked around, I noticed a group of women and young children in matching shirts and realized that they weren’t part of an ordinary tour group. Though my Hebrew is limited, I didn’t need to understand what was written on their shirts to understand why they were at the Kotel. Their pale skin, fragile figures, and tears running down their faces said enough. They were part of a group "Ezer Mizion" which I later learned is an Israeli health support organization, offering medical and social support services for Israelis who are sick, have disabilities, or are underprivileged. The group we saw was a summer program for mothers or children with cancer and their families. The families are provided with meaningful activities while also receiving close medical supervision. On that particular day, 7 buses arrived filled with families fulfilling their wish to pray to G-d at the Kotel.

The instant I saw these mothers with tears streaming down their faces and children who should be out playing, but too frail to walk, I realized how fortunate I am to not have such an urgent prayer for G-d. So instead, along with my wishes for my family and friends, I prayed for the women and young children beside me who truly understood the meaning and importance of prayer. Even while many of them may be suffering from incurable illnesses, they haven’t turned away from G-d.

I still feel an ache in my heart every time I think of the images and emotions I felt that day at the Kotel. We can’t possibly answer prayers the same way G-d can, but if we can help just one family, one individual, then we have answered someone’s prayers.

Six months ago I did an internship at a Children’s hospital in NYC where it often felt as if the prayers of these children and their families were forgotten. Then one day as I helped a 7 year old girl get dressed without depending on her parents, climb out of bed, and play a board game sitting up, I realized that prayers are answered in unique ways. This young girl was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor, and was given a prognosis that prayers wouldn’t be able to tackle. But on my way out of her room that day, her mother thanked me and told me I had answered her prayers that day. To see her daughter out of bed and smiling was enough to make it through that day. A month later, that little girl lost her battle and as I approached her family to send my condolences, her mother thanked me again for helping her, and answering her prayers. I learned a lot about medical conditions and occupational therapy during my internship, but the most important lesson I learned was that these families aren’t just praying for a miraculous cure…they are praying for their children’s happiness, a prayer I was fortunate enough to be able to answer for one family.

Today, as we begin to reflect on our sins, we realize that this is our time to recognize how we can improve our lives and the lives of those around us. As Rambam stated, "Our prayers, reflections of years past, apologies to those we harmed, and acts of Tzedakah do not effect a change in G-d, but a change in us."

L’Shana Tova

September 19, 2009