September 24, 2020 | 17

CASEY GENDASON GUIDANCE

Classes 2021-2024: Contact Casey Gendason Guidance to Prepare for the College Application Process with a former Emory Admissions Offi cer and 16-year Private School College Counselor

678.613.3466

casey@caseygendasonguidance.com

www.caseygendasonguidance.com

Finalize List of CollegesComplete ApplicationsWrite Compelling College EssaysRequest Transcripts and Recommendations

Fall Semester College Application Checklist

L’Shana Tova from my family to yours!

Whether you’re looking for cross-country travel, cultural immersion, or outdoor adventures, BBYO offers a huge variety of Israel experiences for teens to choose from. And, to help defray the cost, BBYO has a limited number of $3,000 TRAVEL VOUCHERS open to all Jewish teens in North America to travel to Israel in summer 2021!

$3,000 VOUCHERS

MORE PROGRAM CHOICES

RISK-FREE REGISTRATION(through 3/2/21)

MAKE NEXT SUMMER MAKE NEXT SUMMER AN ISRAEL SUMMER AN ISRAEL SUMMER WITH BBYO

F O R M O R E D E T A I L SVisit bbyopassport.org/israel-2021

indeed be a year of immense health, prosperity, growth and peace for our nation and the entire world, Amen.

Tichleh shanah vekileloteha, tahel shanah ubirchoteha. May the old year and its curses conclude; may the new year and its blessings begin.

Zecharia Sionit is the rabbi of the Sephardic

Torah Center of Dallas.

We have been challenged, and we continue to respondBy Ben Sternman

In the liturgy of Rosh Hashanah, we declare: Hayom harat olam — today is the birthday of the world — because by tradition, Rosh Hashanah is the anniversary of creation. When we read about creation in Torah (Genesis 1:2), we read “V’ha’aretz hay’ta tohu vavohu, the earth was a chaos, unformed.” I will admit to you that these last six months have felt a little tohu vavohu, chaotic and unformed. But I’ve also found the last six months to be inspiring. Yes…really. Inspiring.

Why have I found the last six months to be inspiring? Because I have witnessed the Jewish community of Greater Dallas unify to cope with the challenges we

have all faced and we have done so together. Under the leadership of Rabbi Michael Kushnick, the Rabbinic Association of Greater Dallas, with rabbis representing the Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Movements, has met on a regular basis to share best practices. We’ve joined with the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas and other Jewish organizations to shepherd our community through these perilous times. Our Jewish community has unifi ed to live out the talmudic dictum (Shevuot 39a) that kol Yisrael arevim zeh b’zeh — all Israel is responsible for one another. Seeing the entire community come together is inspiring.

As we move into the new year, 5781, may we all be inspired to live up to the highest potential of our lives. May we be blessed with health and prosperity. May we join together to celebrate the New Year in joy and happiness.

Wishing you and all whom you love: Shanah tovah um’tukah — a sweet and happy new year.

Ben Sternman is the rabbi of Adat Chaverim

Ignite the spark in others

By Nasanya ZakonWe are taught that Rosh

Hashanah, in addition to being the day of the creation of Adam and Eve, was also the day Joseph was freed from prison. Besides this being an interesting historical fact, there is a very deep message for us.

Joseph was the one who was able to live as an impressionable teenager all alone in Egypt and stay true to the values his father imbued within him. Despite the incredibly difficult test of the wife of Potiphar, he did not give in. The Chassidic masters teach us that due to this, Joseph represents the spark of holiness within a Jew that can be ignited into a fire of passionate Judaism! — a spark that cannot be extinguished and is laden with potential.

What holds us back from bringing this greatness out that is hidden within? Perhaps we are scared, trapped, busy, ignorant, embarrassed, feeling unmotivated… If Joseph went free today then THIS is the time to set ourselves free! Freedom is not a value unto itself; rather, it is a vehicle for expressing the dazzling beauty that lies within us!

We have all been sucker-punched with six months of COVID-19 and its related issues. Whether it was dealing with the illness, fear, financial setback...fear paralyzes and stif les. Freedom allows us to resume our growth and expansiveness. The way to emancipate ourselves and our families is to realize, my role

in life is to ignite that spark in myself and my loved ones. Life is not about waiting for the break in the action to grow! Life is about getting onto the court of life in the midst of the emotional hustle and bustle inside ourselves! Let

us not be trapped but rather become free like the Joseph within us and shine confidently! Shanah Tovah!

Nasanya Zakon is rabbi and director of DATA

of Plano.

Rabbi Ben Sternman

Rabbi Nasanya Zakon

HIGH HOLIDAYS

Photo: Stock