Another New Year is Over
by Eric Wolf Schoen
As the summer sun sets, a chill fills the air. We’ve eaten the last piece of raisin challah bread for this Rosh Hashanah, and we begin to reflect on all the changes in ourselves that we contemplated during Services. We think about the things we’d like to correct before we once again atone for another year of sins and celebrate a new beginning.
The question of whether the holidays were “on time” this year has not come up. Mid-September is always perfect—still warm enough to enjoy the outdoors and all the beauty it offers before the leaves turn and the last bee buzzes away.
Of course, it’s not easy to avoid the goodies that add those extra calories. But we’re not clueless—the government requires manufacturers to list strict nutritional information on pints of Häagen-Dazs and other ever-changing flavors that go on sale in the supermarket (and rarely make it home unopened). Yes, a pint is technically four servings, not one—though many will indulge in it in a single sitting.
Then there’s that shot the doctor wants us to take to prevent illness. We know it’s important, even if it leaves its mark on our arm.
Or that new gown we just bought—it looks great. But do we really need another gown or suit when the one in the closet is perfectly fine?
Next year, many of us will be here again to reflect. Diet is one of the major habits we must change. That pint of Häagen-Dazs goes down smooth, but it lingers in places we don’t want it to.
I wish you and your family a very happy and healthy new year in a world of Shalom—Peace.
Correction: In last week’s column, I mentioned my sister not knowing the dosage of medication she should take. In fact, it was the medical professionals who did not know.
Socialist Takes Manhattan
“New York, New York, a helluva town, the ice cream’s pink and the pizza is brown!”
Remember when I told you several weeks ago to consider Curtis Sliwa for mayor and to tell your friends to do likewise? Curtis—you laughed. The beret-toting guy with a matching jacket.
Friends, it might be too late. We now have a Socialist taking over Manhattan. Scary. More on that in the weeks to come.
