My family went on our annual pomegranate harvest outing yesterday to pick the best ones to grace our Rosh Hashanah dinner table together with the round challah, apples, honey and other delicious dishes symbolizing the sweet new year to come. But we all know Rosh Hashanah is not all about food, and in addition to hearing the Shofar and participating in synagogue services, making a New Year’s resolution is an important way of giving it our best when asking G-d for an amazing new year. I don’t usually do this, but I’d like to propose a unique resolution you can make specifically for the new year 5783. This year is different than most other years since it is called “Hakhel.” Hakhel means to assemble or gather. In the times of the Holy Temple, in the year following Shemittah (the Sabbatical year when all field work is prohibited in Israel once every seven years), all Jewish men, women and children made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the holiday of Sukkot for a very special event. At the appointed time they all gathered in the Holy Temple and heard the king read certain chapters from the Torah. This replicated the Giving of the Torah that happened many years earlier at Mount Sinai, and refreshed the feelings of awe and dedication to G-d we all felt as a nation then. The experience was so powerful that it inspired the nation to intensify their commitment to Jewish life and education for the next seven years. It also facilitated tremendous Jewish unity. The year 5782 was Shemittah (Sabbatical), so 5783 is Hakhel. Although we cannot observe Hakhel in the literal sense in the absence of the Holy Temple, its energy is available to us this coming year, just like all Holy Temple ideas continue to be spiritually and personally relevant everywhere and at all times. We can and should tap into this Hakhel spirit by utilizing gatherings to promote a Jewish message, inspirational Torah ideas, and to do mitzvot together. Doing Hakhel isn’t complicated. All you need is three things; people (a minimum of two), an influencer and Torah inspiration to share. Opportunities abound. Sharing a Torah thought or story at the dinner table, before a business meeting, in the middle of a party or while on an outing are all Hakhel events you can make happen. These examples may seem simple and elementary but you must make a conscious effort to have a Torah idea in mind and actually share it. Of course, participating in Torah classes or Jewish events and gatherings where Torah thoughts are shared and mitzvot are done are also opportunities to get involved with Hakhel. As a new year’s resolution I invite you to commit to “doing Hakhel” at least twice a month. If you’d like to solidify your Hakhel commitment, please join our Hakhel team at chabadelpaso.com/hakhelteam and I will be happy to guide you with Hakhel throughout the year. May the oncoming year of Hakhel bring us closer together and infuse us with inspiration and purpose. Best wishes to you and yours to be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet new year.
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