Rosh Hashanah 5785 (Why this year will be different)

during the 1980 Olympics Russia was playing against the United States in hockey and apparently Russia had an amazing track record in winning hockey games America not so much but as it turns out America won and this was considered to be a big deal for American citizens because to them it represented something more than just a hockey game this was during the Cold War and there was already a lot of uh political tension and bureaucratic tension between America and Russia and the fact that America won mental lots to people this game was coined the Miracle on Ice us team coach his name was ER Brook ER Brook was asked how he succeeded in coaching his team to win this game the night before the game people were they were practicing and they were going through their drills and they were just practicing non-stop it got to the point where the players's legs were like burning them their legs were numb they couldn't move they were in pain they said coach when can we finally just end this we've practiced enough we've been doing this for hours he said to them when you realize that the name on the front of your jersey is more important than the name on the back of your jersey then you could stop practicing you've gotten enough how do you know if you gotten where you needed to go when you're focused not on what your needs are but what you are giving to and what you are capable of giving and who you are giving to like JFK said ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country her Brook was telling his team who are we a part of don't just focus on how good or bad of a player you are as the individual but what are you contributing to that was the secret to their success and I reflect on this story as we enter the new year the Year 5785 because it's going to be an incredible year for the Jewish people we've had a very difficult year but I think this is going to be a year where Jews are more focused on their Collective identity as a Jewish unit they're more focused on the name on the front of their Jersey than they are in their individual desires the name on the back of their Jersey and this really is the message of Russia sh rashash Shana is listening to the call of the chaar the chaar is that common voice we all have deep down inside it's the voice that is going that we're going to hear when Messiah comes that's going to gather all the Jewish people like Isaiah says we're going to sound the great chofar when Messiah comes Gathering all the Jewish people who are scattered around the world that's the message of Rashana the calling of the chofar the desire to come close just today I met a Jew who apparently hasn't been engaged in his practice for a while and it was it was nice to meet up and chat and um I said to him so you're Jewish he says well I'm a bad Jew bro you're just a Jew who wants to become better that's awesome that's amazing why are you a bad Jew to say I'm a bad Jew or I'm a good Jew is focusing a little bit too much on ourselves we are part of something much bigger and we're aspiring to experience that we're aspiring to feel that on this rashash Shana I'd like to encourage you to come to shul and hear the chaar I'd like to encourage you to not just hear the chopar but heed the call of the chofar to become a part of your people whether you've been practicing and engag in your Judaism on a very high level whether you're engaged in Judaism and Jewish practice on a very Elementary level or whether you haven't been engaged at all this is your calling to join your people to realize that even if you haven't been practicing in the past or felt isolated in the past you still carry the name in the front of your jersey you're still part of these people and we as Jewish people need you you are needed I I want I read read a letter that the had penned to somebody who was going through a faith crisis and the re had told him that there's a lot of answers to your questions and Jewish people have been addressing this for thousands of years do your research but until then please know that you are still needed and my message to you friends heed the call of the chaar remember the name at the front of your jersey because you are needed God needs you the Jewish people need you you are being counted on friends wishing you all a happy Sweet New Year a shatova may it be a joyful sweet new year for everybody looking forward to celebrating and hearing good news that's my story and I'm sticking to it