Each year in the fall, Jews around the world observe the holiest season of Jewish life. It begins with an entire month, the month of Elul, during which time our tradition urges Jews to take stock of their lives. Tradition asks every Jew to devote himself or herself to a thorough examination of the soul: "When did I make bad or sinful choices? How have I hurt others?  What duties of life and what areas of Jewish ritual life did I forget or ignore?"

On the first day of the following month, Tishri, Jews observe Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, literally "head of the year." On Rosh Hashanah, Jews flock to synagogue and offer supplications for a good year, that they be inscribed in the Book of Life for another year, and that it might be a year of blessing.

Our prayerbook for this holy season says, that what is written in the Book of Life bears the signature of every human being. We write our lives in the Book of Life and we stand in judgment for our actions and inactions. Tradition says that on Rosh Hashanah, our fate is written in the Book of Life and it is sealed on Yom Kippur, the "Day of Atonement," which follows 10 days later. We call that 10-day period the "Ten Days of Repentance." Our Holy Day prayerbook says: "For sins against God, Yom Kippur will atone, but for sins against another human being, Yom Kippur will not atone, unless you first approach the one who you offended and ask forgiveness of him or her."

In Biblical times, Jews atoned for their sins by offering sin and guilt offerings which they brought to the Tabernacle and then the Temple in Jerusalem that replaced it. Since 70 C.E., when the Roman legions destroyed The Temple in Jerusalem, Jews have replaced their sacrifices of atonement with the process of teshuva, or "turning back to God." This involves 1. Admitting your sin; 2. Confessing to the one you wronged; 3. making good any damages and apologizing; 4. determining not to repeat the offense; and 5. Asking God for forgiveness through prayer. Giving to charity also aids in that process of teshuva.

During the Yamim Nora'im, the "Days of Awe," we take stock of our weaknesses, but, if God holds us accountable for our misdeeds and negligence, surely God also keeps tabs on what we have done right. Each of us should ask him or herself not only, "What did I do wrong?" but also, "What kind of positive mark did I make on the world, my community and within my family circle?"

We ponder these powerful questions, remembering that our tradition connects our shortcomings with our life and sustenance during the year ahead. One way or another we reap what we sow.

These "Days of Awe" leave us with one important message: God, in judging our actions and inactions, does not desire our punishment for our mistakes, but rather that we turn from our ways and live. God gives us a second chance to do it right. That may not heal the previous injury, but it will start us off again on the right path. May this year be one of growing from strength to strength and may it be a year of sweetness and realization of God's abundance of blessings for us.

Submitted by Rabbi Stephen Moch of the Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas.