On High Holidays we all desire to gain a vote

Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka, left, and Sylvain AbitbolDear friends,
We share these thoughts with you right in the midst of a federal election campaign. Election time is decision time. For those running, it is an odd feeling. On the one hand, all who are elected will have some power, even if the party they represent is not part of the government. On the other hand, the only way that they can have any power is by truly representing their constituents. So, until the voters say yes to them, they have no real power.

For us, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are similar to an election. We are all in a campaign, with the desire to gain a vote. The vote we all really want, the only vote that ultimately matters, is God’s vote for us. We want God to vote us “in” to life, health, vigour, contentment, meaning and more.

The question before us is a simple one: how do we earn that vote? Ironically, we earn it the same way that candidates try to earn votes: by making promises and firmly embracing commitments.

There is one catch: the promises must be ones that we genuinely resolve to keep. Otherwise, the process is an empty charade.

It does sound somewhat odd, even problematic, to see the Days of Awe as being like an election campaign. Look at it another way. Whatever wishes we have for ourselves and our families are just that – wishes. We dare not demand, because demand suggests entitlement. And entitlement borders on arrogance.

We wish, we humbly ask, and we combine the “ask” with the awareness that simultaneous with our asking of God, we must ask of ourselves. It cannot be a one-sided relationship of all ask and no give.

After that, we leave the rest to God.

What should we be asking of ourselves? Generally, to be our best, to do our best. This means taking life seriously, living up to our sacred calling, faithfully living up to our responsibilities, and to add a bit of seasoning to all this, allocating some time to helping others.

It makes Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur all the more meaningful if we give it our best, if we make the best possible “pitch.”

In the year that we have served as co-presidents of Canadian Jewish Congress, we have met many volunteers, both inside and outside the Jewish community, who are deeply devoted to others. These are people we greatly respect and admire. And we have gained an intensified appreciation of the professionals at Canadian Jewish Congress who eat, sleep and breathe for the community.

There is much more to do, and we are looking forward to the challenges, which are made all the more achievable because of the great team of professionals and volunteers.

We all have within us the power to do significant things with our lives. That is an endearing power that along the way will gain for us God’s vote that this be a year of good signs for all: “Tehay shnat siman tov –tav shin samech tet.”

The writ has been dropped. Let the voting begin. Shanah Tovah to you and all.

Sylvain Abitbol and Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka
Co-Presidents,
Canadian Jewish Congress