Remembering those in need on Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah is a time of reflection, prayer, and hope for the year ahead. As we stand before Hashem and ask to be blessed with health, security, and prosperity, we are also reminded of our responsibility towards those less fortunate and who can no longer care for themselves. 

The elderly and needy in our community are particularly deserving of our attention at this time of the year. For many, the festive atmosphere of Rosh Hashanah can highlight loneliness, financial hardship, or vulnerability. A warm meal, a visit, a thoughtful gift, or simply knowing that someone cares can make an enormous difference. Judaism teaches us that our relationship with Hashem cannot be separated from our relationship with other people. The true spirit of the yamim noraim (days of awe) is therefore expressed not only in our prayers, but also in the kindness we show to others. 

We are very blessed in South Africa to have communal organisations and shuls that work throughout the year to ensure that the elderly, needy, and lonely aren’t forgotten. Organisations providing aged care, welfare assistance, food support, and community services play a vital role in identifying those who need help and ensuring that assistance reaches them with dignity and sensitivity. Shul communities and rabbis regularly reach out to people who need hospitality. 

Around Rosh Hashanah, these organisations and shuls often go beyond their regular responsibilities. They help provide festive meals and food parcels, assist families experiencing financial difficulties, arrange care and support for the elderly, and bring companionship to people who might otherwise spend the festival alone. Their work allows the broader community to participate in the mitzvah of caring for those in need. 

Yet the responsibility doesn’t belong only to communal organisations and shuls. Each of us has the ability to make a difference on a personal level. A phone call to a relative or friend, an invitation to someone who would otherwise be alone, a donation to a worthy organisation, or an offer to help a struggling family can transform someone’s Rosh Hashanah. 

As we ask Hashem to remember us for blessing, let us remember those who need our help. By caring for others, we turn the prayers and ideals of Rosh Hashanah into action, and help create a community in which nobody is forgotten. 

• Rabbi Jonathan Fox is group rabbi of the Chevrah Kadisha.