As Rosh Hashanah approaches and the final days of summer draw to a close, we find ourselves in a natural moment of transition. The last weeks of summer are often filled with family trips, quiet rest, or time spent outdoors before the year begins in full. Just as summer winds down, we prepare not only for a new season, but also for a new spiritual chapter. This shift reminds us that time is not only measured in days and months, but also in meaning and renewal.

The High Holidays invite us to take stock—individually and as a community. After nearly two years of conflict, the call for healing and unity is more urgent than ever. Our tradition teaches that the pain of one reverberates in us all, and that true renewal cannot be undertaken alone. Maimonides reminds us that on Rosh Hashanah, we are judged both by our own deeds and by the balance of our community. Even the smallest tilt toward goodness within the collective can bring blessing and hope for us all.

As we close out summer and enter 5786, may we carry forward the warmth of connection, the strength of unity, and the courage to rebuild together. Let this season of transition be a reminder that just as the seasons turn, so too can we turn toward one another, toward healing, and toward the promise of a new year. Shanah Tovah.