Shana Tova - May next year be a better year for us all!

By Sara Neidle, Financial Services

Over the weekend, we celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. As we say goodbye to the past year, it's time to reflect on how we can improve our lives and do better for next year. As individuals we try to be good, do acts of kindness and take care of one another.

This Rosh Hashanah, it was very unusual. Whereas, I usually spend time with my family and friends celebrating the new year, this year we were forced to become socially distant. Typically filled with parents and grandparents, friends and neighbours around the Yom Tov table, my Rosh Hashanah table like many others, was just not the same. We had to be more creative. Parents and grandparents were staggered over the two days. I felt quite lucky as I was able to spend time with my family, whereas others that have a family of five weren’t even able to see their parents.

Despite all this, communities joined together to hear the sound of the Shofar (a rams horn); the Shofar is a wakeup call which makes us look beyond ourselves and appreciate everything around us. It’s an opportunity for us all to contribute and do our part to make the world a better place. 

Next Monday will be Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It’s always a very tough day, and especially with the recent news, who knows whether communities in the UK will have the opportunity to go to synagogue and break the fast together. All I know is that I feel extremely proud of how we have been able to keep traditions alive and may that continue. 

The past six months has been a very challenging time. All we can hope is next year will be a better year for us all. 

Shana Tova U’Metukah - wishing you all a happy, healthy and sweet new year.