Shana Tova 5,771

Tomorrow, Thursday, is the first day of the year 5,771, the number of years Jews believe have passed since God created the world. This evening is Erev Rosh Hashanah, when Jews have a festive dinner, and count their blessings.

I'd like to say to my friends and readers Shana Tova, a wish for a good year and a sweet one.

What would a good year be like for me?

First of all, for my kids to thrive and be happy.
Then, for my husband to come to terms with the passing of his father, and get on with the business of life.
And for me to recover at least in part, my past naivete and optimism about the future.

As you can see, I'm not asking for much. It would be nice if peace came to Israelis, and we hear no more of Jews getting villified, threatened, or killed. But this, I suspect, is already asking for too much.

My Rosh Hashana gift to you is a song, performed by Shalom Chanoch. It's called in Hebrew, בגילגול הזה.

Gilgul גילגול means a reincarnation, or a cycle of life. In Hebrew parlance it means more simply, in this life.

This time around

May you always be joyful
and never stop singing
May you continue to grow
and forever remain young
May you always go forward
and never lose your hope
May you know peace and goodness
and find love

May you learn to live together
and remain free
May you find some usefulness
even in the toughest ordeals
May you remain humble
and always be healthy
And may you manage your life
so it will not be a waste

May you know only goodness
and have enough time to love
in this life
this time around

Because it's not easy
Being here, not at all
to go on and on and on
this time around

בגילגול הזה
שלום חנוך

שתהיה תמיד שמח
שלעולם לא תפסיק לשיר
שתמיד תמשיך לגדול
ושתמיד תישאר צעיר
שתמיד תלך קדימה
ושלא תאבד תקווה
שתדע שלום וטוב
ושתמצא את האהבה.

שתשכיל לחיות ביחד
ולהישאר חופשי
ושתוכל למצוא תועלת
גם במצבים קשים
שתמיד תישאר צנוע
ושתמיד תהיה בריא
ושתצליח שחייך
לא יהיו לריק.

שיהיה לך טוב
שתספיק לאהוב
הו בגילגול הזה
הגילגול הזה.

כי זה לגמרי לא קל
להיות פה בכלל
ועוד, עוד ועוד
בגילגול הזה.