Rosh Hashannah 2021 is the time when nations are Judged in the Heavenly Court. How will America fare?

 

On the Jewish calendar, September 2, 2021 is the 25th day of the Jewish month, Elul. For Jews across the world, Elul 25 means that Rosh Hashannah is today just 6 days away. 

It is said that Rosh Hashannah celebrates the world's Creation. But Rosh Hashannah is also the time for personal reflection--because on these two Holy days, Mankind is to be Judged. Personal reflection, therefore, is appropriate.

Yes, Rosh Hashannah is indeed a Day of Awe (at the Creation that G-d wrought) and a Day of Judgment. But it is also more than that. Much more.  

According to Jewish tradition, the world was not created on Rosh Hashannah. It was created 6 days earlier--on Elul 25. It was Man who was created on Rosh Hashannah. That is important because Man has done much damage to Creation; and some say he is about to do more damage.

Also, while Mankind will be judged on Rosh Hashannah, Man is not the only subject of Judgment. The nations of the world will also be Judged. This is important because the nations have also done damage to Creation--and some believe they are about to do more damage.

On history's very first Elul 25, Creation began. It was a process that transformed the world. Indeed, by Rosh Hashannah Day, after just 6 days of this transformative Creation process, there literally began a New World Order. That is, the old world of darkness gave way to Light. The old world of chaos gave way to Order. The old way of primeval savagery gave way to Man, who appeared on the first Day of Rosh Hashannah.

Our Spiritual history began on Rosh Hashannah with the appearance of Man. This history has been characterized by struggle—the struggle to inch our way towards our true Spiritual potential. Every Rosh Hashannah, each of us gets the opportunity to commit once again to that potential.

The history of this struggle has not been easy. It has been marked by war, conquest, pestilence and slavery. It is a history filled with Man’s attempt to cleave to G-d.  But it is also a history of Man’s rebellion--and his wars--against G-d.

Man’s history has brought us brutality. It has brought to us both the Stone Age and the Dark Age.  

Modern man has been lucky. Some of us, particularly those of us in the West, live lives characterized by the benefits of, relatively speaking, great national wealth, extraordinary health care and a cornucopia of material and physical comforts. For us Westerners, life has indeed been good. The Dark Ages have been long forgotten.

Each Rosh Hashannah, we wonder what the new year will bring. In our prayers, we ask: who will die? Who will live? Who will prosper? Who will fail? Who will lose? Who will triumph?

On this Rosh Hashannah, I wonder what will the answers to these questions be for America? As America is Judged, will it prosper? Will it be at peace? I fear not.

Some in America say that the year between September 2021-October 2022 could bring to America terror attacks, gun battles in US cities and the very real possibility that, on some as-yet unknown level, life in America could collapse.

Could this really happen? Could America be Judged harshly in the Heavenly Court? 

Stay tuned. In the months following Rosh Hashannah 2021, we will all found out if America will prosper or if it will suffer a new Dark Age--or worse.