Starting Afresh

Israel’s Police Commissioner just resigned and a new one has already been appointed...
The new IDF Chief of Staff, Gabi Ashkenazi, has just begun his termof office...
And Jacky Matza, Director of Israel’s Tax Authority, also resigned yesterday.

As I walked up the steps to my house,I stopped to admire the fresh pink blossom on the neighbor’s peach tree.
I walked a few more steps into my garden to observe the buds beginning to grow on our magnificent fig tree.

Spring is in the air in Israel.
It’s time for renewal.
Because that’s how the Universe works.
It’s embedded in Nature.

And it’s part of us too.

Today is the first of the Hebrew month of Adar, and the Jewish calendar and liturgy make special provisions for every new month. It reminds us that we can always renew ourselves. Every month. Every day if necessary.
We can decide to resign our old selves, our old habits or those annoying character traits...
We can decide to resign our jobs and follow that dream we’ve always wanted...
We can decide to fire our fears and take control of our lives...

And that’s wonderful!
If we realize that change and renewal is the way the world is supposed to work...
If we realize that changes in Governments and public positions are perfectly natural...
And we realize that we too can renew ourselves at any given moment...

We need never be depressed!

There’s always hope! There’s always a way out. After every resignation comes a new appointment, a new opportunity.
And the Jewish people know that better than most. It’s what’s kept us going for so long!
So whether it’s the Police, the IDF, the Tax Authority or ourselves, let us hope that all renewal is as sure and delicious as my peaches and figs!