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Harvey Belovski, rabbi at Golders Green United Synagogue: 
The Jewish New Year – Rosh HaShanah – finished a few hours ago. It’s not much like a traditional new year’s party, although we had fabulous meals and some excellent wine with family and friends. In Jewish tradition, Rosh HaShanah is the anniversary of the start of human history, a chance to review our priorities and aspirations for the year ahead. I love Rosh HaShanah, as it carries hope and optimism like no other time. Many people who rarely attend synagogue are inexorably drawn to come along – perhaps it’s the atmosphere, the wonderful, ageless songs, a chance to catch up with friends, or maybe it’s because they think I’m funny, something my children will probably dispute! 
I suspect that each of us actually welcomes the chance to explore the gap between how we’d like our lives to be and the reality. We all have dashed dreams – relationships that haven’t worked, family members no longer with us, unfulfilled personal, professional and spiritual goals. We mostly try not to think about them, but I believe that from time to time we need to experience the tension between who we are and who we’d like to be and, if you like, weigh ourselves in the balance in the presence of God. It’s fascinating that the Zodiac sign for this month is Libra – the scales. Jews don’t believe that a mere sign determines what happens to us – that depends on us – but it guides as to what’s going on in our ‘real’, internal life. 
At this time of the year, Jewish people address God as the king who loves life and ask Him to remember us for life. One of my teachers pointed out that ‘life’ really means ‘time’ – we ask God to give us many good years of health and happiness. But to justify that request, we might need to weigh our request on those scales and clarify what we plan to do with all that extra time. It’s a tough message, one hammered home by the rousing sound of a special trumpet made from a ram’s horn, which I blow during prayers in the synagogue. It articulates tensions between life and reality in the deepest recesses of our souls and encourages us to focus our dreams on the year ahead. Not much of a new year’s party, but still a real blast!