Happy New Year - Shana Tova

Dear friends,

It’s no coincidence that I named my short-term rental business Harmony Apartments. Harmony is what I strive for in my personal life. And in my professional life I am dedicated to delivering a harmonious guest experience from inquiry to check out.

This year has been challenging for Am Yisrael. We are divided, one against the other. It’s hard for me to even write these words, but you only have to switch on the news to see the terrible rift that has risen between us. The thing is, we are all connected, each one affecting the entire nation with our words, thoughts and deeds. Division prevents us from reaching our potential as a people, impedes us from becoming the vital, throbbing, globe of light we are born to be.

In Likutei Halachot, Rabbi Nathan explains that on Rosh Hashana it is only our complete togetherness that can bring down the sweetness that dissolves any harsh judgements decreed upon us. So we need to make changes, together. Or we will all go down, together.

Rosh Hashana is also called Yom Hazikaron – the day of remembering. Remembering what? When we stood together at Sinai, united, understanding how we emanate from the very same source as the person standing next to us.

Let us decipher the haunting cry of the shofar as the desperate call of the Other. Then we can make a first step, by recognizing and respecting the different ideas, opinions, customs and behaviors that we each defend.

I bless us all that we should have the strength to move into this New Year in a blessed state of harmony. There really is no other way.