Baruch Bodenheim

My father was cleaning out his file cabinet and found a large manila envelope with my old grade school report cards. Of course I was interested in seeing the grades, but I was even more interested in the teachers’ comments. One specific comment stood out. When I was five years old, the teacher wrote, “Baruch is a disobedient child.” I broke out in laughter—definitely not applicable today! On Rosh Hashanah, Hashem judges each one of us and it’s a little scary, since we know our own misdeeds.

I attended the shiur of Hagaon Rav Asher Arielli in Mir Yerushalayim for many years. As I recall, it was common then for Americans to go home for the Pesach break. Although the zman ended on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, many actually left after Purim for their own personal reasons. On Rosh Chodesh Adar, Rav Asher did something unusual: He offered some not-so-subtle words of rebuke to the group who were leaving early.

Two years ago, we hosted a shabbaton for young professionals before Rosh Hashanah. One of the young professionals who attended was not yet observant but was very inspired. We had discussed how Rosh Hashanah presents the opportunity for a fresh start. I asked him where he planned to be for Rosh Hashanah. “I have work,” he replied.