God saw all that he had made, and it
was very good. And
there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. — Genesis 1:31
Shana Tova is the traditional Jewish greeting
for the New Year. However, contrary to most greeting cards, the translation is
not “Happy New Year!” Rather, when we wish someone Shana Tova, the wish is for a “Good Year.” This
nuance may seem inconsequential at first, but the truth is that the difference
is extremely significant.
There is a big
difference between pursuing a happy life and pursuing a good life.
Seeking a happy life is usually focused on getting things for myself. We say,
“I’ll be happy when I take that vacation,” or “when I get that new car,” or
“when that person treats me better.” Seeking a good life, on the other hand, is
about giving to others. My life is good when I do the right thing, help others,
and contribute to the world around me.
Let’s take a
look at the first time the word “good” is used in the Bible. In the very first
chapter of the Torah we read the story of Creation. After
every day God looked over His creation and deemed it “good.” On the final day,
which traditionally is considered the actual date of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very
good.” By
labeling His creation good, God meant that all He had created fulfilled the
purpose for which He had created it.
God created
human beings to worship him and his creation. When we wish people a “Good
Year,” we are wishing them a year filled with purpose, meaning, contribution,
and fulfillment.
On Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish custom is to dip apple
slices in honey. The apple represents our wish for a good year. An apple is
healthy – it is good for us. However, we dip it in honey to express our desire
that what is good for us also be experienced as something sweet. The longer
version of the Rosh
Hashanah greeting is
actually “Shana Tova u’metuka,” “Have a good and sweet year.” While we
are clear that our main goal is to have a good year and a good life, we also
ask God that it be sweet. There is a certain sweetness that comes from living a
life of contribution, and we ask God for a year that is filled with both
goodness and the accompanying sweetness.
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