It’s time to turn over a new leaf before Rosh Hashana.  It’s time to start a clean slate for the upcoming new year.  Where does one begin?  We all want a new start this Rosh Hashanah.  We need a new beginning to renew our resolutions of change we’ve been trying to implement.  We need a fresh start after a long stretch of summer lazy days.  (okay, so even if some days weren’t lazy at all!)  Rosh Hashana comes upon us and helps us create that new start, the clean slate, the new leaf and gives us a renewed lease of life - With G-d’s will for all.

So how do we actually get the renewal we seek on Rosh Hashanah?  It comes with a lot of preparation on the spiritual realm.  We need to do some inspirational shopping and introspection to recognize those elements that are calling out for change.  These changes are twofold.  We need to introspect on ; a-Bein adam lamakem - the relationship between the indvidual and G-d and b-Bein Adam Lachveiro- between one individual and his or her peers.  At this time G-d beseeches us to make amends with ‘lachveiro’ - our friends before coming to him.  It’s time to put aside those petty quarrels, it’s time to start greeting your neighbor who’s son ruined your newly planted garden with his reckless bike riding, it’s time to forgive and start forgetting those thoughtless comments you’ve heard from your coworkers and even your boss.  Once you’ve risen above all pettiness you can come before G-d and tell him ‘I’ve made amends and forgiven those that have been petty to me, so now can you not forgive my pettiness’.   And G-d will forgive us and will inscribe us all in the book of life we long to find ourselves in this Rosh Hashanah and hopefully we will live to see the Geulah-the final redemption speedily.