07 Jan “NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS”

The Gemora teaches us,
“Im ein daas, havdala
minayin – Without
knowledge, how does
one differentiate?” This
is the reason why in
the Shemone Esrei on
Motzoi Shabbos we say
the havdala insertion of
Atah chonantonu within
the blessing of Atah chonein, the brocha where
we beseech Hashem for knowledge. So, we
see that only with proper understanding can
one see differences in the world. Among the
distinctions mentioned in Atah chonantonu, as
well as one of the separations that we discuss
in the short and beautiful havdala service
after Shabbos is the statement, Hamavdil bein
Yisroel l’amim, that Hashem differentiates
between Klal Yisroel and the gentiles.
One of the ways we can perceive the
differences between the values of a Torah Jew
and the average non-Jew is by contrasting the
Top Ten New Year’s resolutions touted for the
secular calendar and the commitments a Jew
makes before Rosh HaShannah.
The top ten resolutions for 2025 are
1.Excercise more 2.Lose weight 3.Save money

4.Pursue a career 5.Quit Smoking 6.Decorate
or renovate your home 7.Learn a skill or a
hobby 8.Cut down on drinking 9. Volunteer
10. Spend more time with family. Five years
ago the three top resolutions in America were:
Number One, lose weight; Number Two, get
organized; and Number Three, spend less.
Now, let’s ponder what would be our top three
resolutions. We would have to suggest that the
first commitment would concern strengthening
our Yiras Shomaiyim, our fear of Heaven,
for that is what a Jew’s life is all about. As
Moshe Rabbeinu beseeched, “Mah Hashem
Elokecha sho’el mei’imoch, ki im l’yirah –
What does Hashem ask from you but that you
should fear Him,” and be more aware of Him
(cf. Rav Miller’s many tapes that the root of
yirah means to see), or the lifelong objective
of “B’chol drachecha da’eihu – In all of your
ways you should acknowledge Him,” and,
“Es Hashem Elokecha tirah – That you should
fear Hashem.” Namely, that the thought of
Hashem should influence your decision making
processes.
Our second resolution would undoubtedly be
to spend more time learning Torah for this too
is the very purpose of our existence. Like it
says in Pirkei Avos, Ki l’kach notzorta, it is
for the study of Torah that you were created.

Similarly, we are taught in Sanhedrin, “T’chilas
dino shel adom eino ela b’divrei Torah – When
we go for our final accounting before Hashem
we will first be judged concerning the amount
of time that we spent studying Hashem’s
Torah.” The third resolution would definitely
revolve around improving our relationships
with our spouse, our parents, our children, our
friends, and with humanity in general.
What a difference between our kabolos,
commitments, compared with losing weight,
getting organized, and spending less. Now, to
be sure, losing weight is important. Obesity is a
huge American problem that is responsible for
the sicknesses and deaths of untold thousands
of Americans every year. And, indeed it is
a Torah directive of V’nishmartem meod es
nafshoseichem, to diligently safeguard one’s
life. But, it is a far cry from the core and
purpose of our existence.
Getting organized is also important in a Torah
Jew’s life. Rav Miller writes that the first
nights of Pesach, the anniversary of the birth of
the Jewish people, are celebrated by the seder.
The word seder literally means organized, for
the grand Pesach meal has a specific order:
kadeish, ur’chatz, karpas, yachatz, etc. So too,
it is proper for one to lead an organized life
with a daily seder starting with modeh ani
and concluding with birchas hamapil. But
somehow I think the secular idea of getting
organized has more to do with cleaning out
the closets and throwing away some of the
clutter. The third secular commitment of
spending less and saving more is admirable
for if there is not enough money in the
home, the Talmud teaches us that marital
friction is quick to follow. But, once again,
the emphasis of focusing on money as a
number three priority is an American way
of thinking.
Let’s look at the next three most popular
American resolutions of five years ago.
Here is where we see that the gap widens
considerably. Number Four of the Top Ten:
Enjoy life more. Number Five: Stay fit, and
Number Six: Learn something new, like a
new language. If we would look at our
next three, I would suggest that Number
Four is to find ways to be more charitable,
to give more tzedaka, and to help more
people. Number Five would be to daven
better, to learn the meaning of our prayers
and to be more sincere and devout in our
discussions with Hashem. And Number Six
would probably revolve around mourning
over the loss of the Temple and increasing
our desire to bring Moshiach.
It’s always important to remember how
different we are, and to thank Hashem that
He allowed us the privilege to be part of this
Holy Nation. Ashrecha Yisroel, fortunate
are you Yisroel, mi k’amcha Yisroel, who
is like you O! Israel, goy echad b’oretz,
a nation unique in the land. Once again,
enjoying life is also a Torah objective. To
have simchas hachayim, happiness with life,

is of the utmost necessity in being a true eved
Hashem, as it says, “Ivdu es Hashem b’simcha
– Serve Hashem with joy.” Furthermore, it is
certain that Hashem wants us to be happy, for
this is the reason He created pistachio nuts, and
lamb chops, pineapples and chocolate, sunlight
and roses, a gentle breeze and a spouse’s
tender voice. But this is tempered by a Jew’s
awareness that all of this is temporal, and the
ultimate focus is on preparing with mitzvahs
and maasim tovim, commandments and good
deeds, for the eternal existence of the Afterlife.
Staying fit is also a component of health and
as mentioned, a Torah command. But we

have our priorities and we will spend forty-
five precious minutes at the Daf Yomi instead

of pumping iron at the gym – although we still
must find some time to exercise as well. We
too put a premium on learning something new,
but it’s not by purchasing the Rosetta Stone
course to learn French or Chinese. Rather, it’s
to make a mussar seder in Mesilas Yeshorim,
to tackle a masechet, or learn some Mishna
Yomi (on Kol Haloshon, 718-906-6471, for
example).
May it be the will of Hashem that we always
make new resolutions (and there’s nothing
wrong with making them now!) and in that
merit may Hashem bless us with long life, good
health, and everything wonderful.