Happy New Year – Rosh HaShanah

While the origins of the shmita year were about the agricultural process of growing and harvesting the land in Israel, it may be interpreted in the Diaspora to include a wider focus on Jewish life events. As in so many other cases, we in the Diaspora look through a different lens at Jewish customs and practices. We think differently and beyond the narrow meaning of shmita – literally, “a year to let go or a year to let go of something in our life” – and may include the significance of life events, a pause in time, a moment when we step back and consider who we are, what we do and the meaning and values that are the foundation of our people. I look at the idea of “a schmita year” as a time to rejoice in our peoplehood, a time of celebration, rebirth, and renewal and preparing to celebrate life events when the schmita year ends. My painting of a child blowing a shofar to welcome a new year represent the renewal of ourselves, as is the shmita year a time of celebration, restoration and reflection on new directions with anticipation of continuing the cycle of life and major life events when the shmita year ends.