Happy (JEWISH) New Year!

Jews normally do things late. Yet, while 99 percent of the world celebrates the New Year on Jan. 1st, we celebrate months earlier — and dropping balls, and tumultuous crowds amassed in Times Square, are generally not involved.

For many, the secular New Year is “party time.” Five, four, three, two… You’ve made it through the last 12 months which means tomorrow, after the Visine and Advil kick in, you pick up the pizza!

Boom! Done.

Jews however, are rarely “done” — especially as we prepare, with repentance and prayers for a fruitful year, for Divine Judgment. While Rosh Hashanah is a day for rejoicing, it is also a very serious day, marked with prayer, ritual, and introspection.

When we contrast the secular and Jewish new years, here are a few differences.

Resolutions

On both the secular and the Jewish new years, we’re busy making resolutions. After exhaustive research for you, my readers, I found five of the top secular resolutions:

1. Go on a diet and lose 20 pounds

2. Join a gym

3. Drink less booze.

4. Stop biting my nails

5. Quit twirling my hair

Of course, we know, that for many of us, these things will never happen. Like the stationary bicycle you bought that has become a handy clothes hook, by February first, many are biting and twirling themselves about paying for a gym the inside of which they have not and will never see.

Rosh Hashanah resolutions evoke deeper thoughts. A Jewish process of introspection and resolution for renewal is called a cheshbon ha-nefesh (an accounting of our souls). The very act is like a monetary budget in spiritual terms. Have I reviewed my deeds, character, intellectual and theological orientation, quantity and quality of mitzvah observance? Through resolving to fine-tune and correct character flaws and be better Jews, we renew our relationship with G-d and the world — not for just a month, but with a commitment to permanent change.

Food and drink

On both the secular and the Jewish new years, food and drink are part of the festivities.