HAKARAT HATOV: RECOGNIZING THE GOOD

We loved.
And we wept.
We were kind—
and spoke thoughtfully.
We were faithful and trusting.
We put forth effort.
We were mindful.
We embraced.
We took delight in the holy books.
We were creative.
And we yearned.
We fought for justice—
and searched out the good.
We tried our best.
And we were attentive.
We did what You commanded us to do.
We found meaning in Torah.
And, most of the time, we did what is right. We proclaimed Your name.
And we were accepting.
We were joyful.
And we cared.

This wonderful poem from our new Machzor invites us to acknowledge the good in us. May this wisdom serve us as a source of strength where we feel weak, where we need to improve, or where we might have failed on our journey towards Rosh HaShanah.

Shabbat Shalom—Rabbi Adrian M Schell

Quote: Mishkan HaNefesh: Yom Kippur: Machzor for the Days of Awe (Page 659)