It’s time again to start thinking about taxes. No, not those taxes, the spiritual taxes that Rosh Hashanah requires we pay. What are spiritual taxes you may ask? Is there spiritual currency like bitcoin? Bitcoin is a new kind of money used on the Internet — totally virtual — but with real impact. The invention of bitcoin makes it easier to explain spiritual currency and spiritual taxes — totally virtual — but with real impact.

And there is another wondrous feature of spiritual taxes: you pay only what you pledge, not a penny more. It’s what you said you wanted to change last year, what you said you wanted to give up, improve. On Passover, we ask, Ma Nishtana — how is this night different? On Rosh Hashanah, too, we should ask Ma Nishtana — how different is this year? Did we make changes for the better, or did we simply accept things as they were? Did we take any step, big or small, toward our true self? Did we let go of what we don’t need to keep?

It seems as though our Back Room Sale is perfectly timed every year, just before Rosh Hashanah. The sale is one way to help us clear our basements from all those things we’ve been looking at all year and saying, “That’s it, it’s been another year since I’ve used this or that; this year, I’ll just give it away.” Giving away physical objects, no matter how small or large, assists us with letting go of emotions and habits that hold us back.

Rosh Hashanah this year will also end the Shmita — the sabbatical year. Every seven years, we have the opportunity, as the word Shmita suggests, to drop and let go. If you haven’t yet done so, there is still time. This year, when we ask Ma Nishtana — how different do we want this year to be — let’s have answers. This year, when it’s time to pay our spiritual taxes, let’s be prepared with what we are willing to pay spiritually — virtually — but with real impact. Sometimes, it’s simply saying, “I’m sorry.”

I’m looking forward to seeing many of you soon, as we celebrate another year as a strong community, a welcoming community, a Jewish community.

Shannah Tova. May we all have another good year!

—Rabbi Gadi Capela


High Holidays preparation classes

Rabbi Gadi will offer High Holy Days preparation classes on the four Thursdays prior to the holidays. The classes will be held from 3 to 4 p.m., immediately before the Rabbi’s regularly scheduled Parasha classes. The Aug. 20 class focused on shofar training. At the Aug. 27 class, participants will study the blessing of the Kohanim. The Sept. 3 class will review the aliyah prayer, and the Sept. 10 class will introduce holiday songs. All are welcome to attend.