Reflections
| Therapeutic Accounting ® | |
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By Harvey Bookstein, CPA |
| Publication Date: Tax Planning 2009 | |
I recently attended several days of services at my Temple for the High Holidays (New Years for the Jewish faith). During this time, I found that I was contemplating why I was there. As one of my daughters, Roni, describes me (and I agree), I am not an overly religious man, but a spiritual one.
It is hard for me to accept the premise that many religious people believe that, if good things happened, then “God provided,” but if bad things happened then “God is testing.” This is one of the main reasons I have questions about religion overall, as it seems that nothing is up to our own devices, but instead has been predestined. Although I may not be religious, I believe everyone has the right to make their own determination in regards to religion. For me no one is right or wrong in their beliefs, as long as they do not bring harm to those who do not agree with them.
In not being very religious, it makes me question why I attend these religious services at all. Do I go because I know how much it meant to my mother when she was alive? Do I go because I know it makes my wife, Harriet, feel good? Do I go to set an example for my children and grandchildren so they receive some good foundations? I believe that I go for all those reasons, but I also go because it is a time for me to reflect on my life and of those around me without the normal daily distractions.
During the services, there are two specific times where I spend most of the time in reflection. The first is when the services are in Hebrew, as I do not understand a word of it. During this period, I find my mind wonders into reflection of examining my past. The second time during the services that I am able to reflect is when we all stand in silence to think our own thoughts. I find that is the time when I consider my hopes for myself and each of my family members, our community and for the world as a whole. I am usually one of the last people standing.
I said that I am not religious, but then why do I pray to God when there is an emergency (as I do not know, in fact, if there is a God)? Why did I go to my Rabbi (Rabbi Goor) for comfort when my parents were dying? Why do I follow some of the Jewish customs, even if I do not really fully understand the reasons for their existence? There obviously is some uncertainty with regard to religion for me.
During the High Holidays, it was said that God will decide during the Jewish New Year if you will live or not in the coming year. It is the time to hopefully be “written in the book of life” (to live). During the process, we need to atone for any sins that we as individuals or we as a community have committed in the prior year. We ask for forgiveness (much like Catholics do during confession, but we do it only once a year) in order to get a chance to live in the upcoming year.
During one of the services, our Rabbi, had us look at the A–Z’s for individual reflection. When reading it, other than three places that may have religious overtones, I can’t imagine that anyone would not choose to avoid these “sins” as indicated below. The A–Z’s read:
Abuse our health
Boast of our success and status
Close our eyes to the poor and hungry
Deny that being Jewish is very important
Enjoy the downfall of others
Forget the covenant between God and Israel
Give into peer group pressure
Hate others without cause
Ignore the needs of family and friends
Jeer at others more religious than ourselves
Kid others without regard for their feelings
Listen to voices at odds with what we know is right
Make no time to study Torah (Bible)
Notice only the faults of those close to us
Openly criticize others without knowing the facts
Prevent others from showing their own strengths
Quietly listen to prejudiced statements
Refuse to be generous
Scapegoat our loved ones when we are under stress
Trifle with other people’s feelings
Use money as a way of evaluating people
Vilify those with whom we disagree
Wait too long to restore friendships
eXcuse ourselves for hurting others by saying, “It’s their fault”
Yield to cynicism and disbelief
Zip past ideas worthy of deeper consideration.
As a human being, it would be hard for me to believe that any religious or non-religious person could not agree with these points. Imagine what kind of a great community, nation or world we would have if everyone adopted these simple values.
Maybe we all need to take time to reflect in order to improve our individual and community’s attitudes toward life.
