New year’s reflections to build back better

In April, I shared how this year’s Passover helped me reflect on the current interrelated emergencies of nature loss, climate change and inequality we’re facing. It was a step outside my comfort zone, but your reactions were so supportive and encouraging that I decided to share some more thoughts as we head into the Jewish “High Holidays” including the new year, called Rosh Hashanah (which starts in the evening of Friday 18 September), and Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. 

1. We need a wake-up call – is COVID it?

The Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah, is both a happy festive celebration and a wake-up call.

The Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah, is both a happy festive celebration and a wake-up call.

Some of you might know of the lovely tradition of eating apple dipped in honey on Rosh Hashanah. It represents wishing each other not only a happy and healthy, but also a sweet year. But there’s a profound meaning beneath the sugar coating.

On Rosh Hashanah, we traditionally listen to the sound of a ram’s horn being blown. It’s a raw and powerful sound, not pretty at all. Why? Because it is a wake-up call. The sound of the ram’s horn means “HEY! You have 10 days to get your house in order before the ultimate judgement of whether you will live or die in the coming year. Get a move on.”

Just as there are 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, scientists say we have 10 years to reverse nature loss. So many children already get it. Check out this 2-minute video that I made with my 10-year old son and his friends on the fact we have 10 years to protect our planet.

Days go by in what can seem like an endless stream. It’s not surprising that the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, like many others, called the COVID-19 pandemic “an unprecedented wake-up call” from nature to all of us. 

2. Don’t just say you’re sorry, fix it.

The High Holidays are also about asking for forgiveness and making amends. But before you can ask your fellow human beings for forgiveness, you first need to actually do something to fix whatever you did wrong. So during the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, some people will be paying back debts, giving more to charity and doing good deeds.

Sure, you could theoretically do all of these things on any other day of the year, right? But the looming deadline of Yom Kippur provides the sense of urgency to deal with them now, not later.

Commitments, resolutions and apologies are really important. But they are just words. We need to see the actions that prove something has changed for the better.

It won’t be good enough to say “we’re sorry” to future generations. We will need to show them that we really, really tried to fix it.

This is true for our relationships with each other and with the planet. It won’t be good enough to say “we’re sorry” to future generations. We will need to show them that we really, really tried to fix it. The clock is ticking. We still have time to catch up – but only if we act now.

3. Take responsibility as an individual and as part of a community

Jewish religious services, especially during the High Holidays, are a mix of collective and individual prayer. We must pray together, but every person’s individual part is just as important. You can’t only count on others praying for you.

The fact Jews around the world ask for forgiveness and try to make amends at the same time adds some peer pressure: if someone asks you for forgiveness, surely you’ll ask them back just to be on the safe side. It also lightens the load because we are all trying to do the right thing together.

We can’t only rely on the most passionate individuals who are going out of their way to reduce their own footprint. And we can’t be passive and wait for the whole world to change, for example through international policy.

I think it’s the same for our planet. We can’t only rely on the most passionate individuals who are going out of their way to reduce their own footprint. And we can’t be passive and wait for the whole world to change, for example through international policy. We each have our role to play in our collective well-being and success, and this is also true for how we emerge from the health, economic and inequality crises we are facing too.

Rosh Hashanah is known as the Day of Judgment for all of humanity, not just the Jews. Over the next few days, we will all stand together to be judged collectively as well as individually. During these important days, I hope to reflect on my personal actions as well as the transformational shifts we need to make together. While the challenges ahead are huge, I am optimistic. Never before have I seen so much awareness, leadership and sense of purpose.  

P.S. If I have offended or hurt you in any way, intentionally or unintentionally, please forgive me, ideally before the evening of 27 September which is Yom Kippur ??.