The new year starts with you

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, is upon us once again. It inaugurates a month of rich, colorful, meaningful holidays, with a spirit that ranges from the solemn to the ecstatic. With it come opportunities for fresh beginnings, personal growth and new resolutions. We enter the month of Tishrei with the intention of embracing new resolutions, engaging in self-transformation and uniting with those around us to cultivate a more cohesive community.

A good way to predict the success of our resolutions is to look at the scope and scale of what we want to achieve. Should we aspire to become a completely different person, or maybe single-handedly solve world hunger, we are not likely to get too far. Implementing and maintaining change is achievable when we take on smaller, immediately attainable goals. We are more likely to keep to our plan when we connect these goals with something real and tangible.

Implementing and maintaining change is achievable when we take on smaller, immediately attainable goals.

For example, if you want to kindle greater sensitivity or kindness this year, select one specific compassionate action that you will start doing. If you are concerned about world hunger, volunteer at a nearby soup kitchen.

If you wish for a deeper connection to your Jewish identity, incorporate one small, new Jewish ritual into your routine. Gradually, these steps will pave the way for a more significant transformation.

A story to help illustrate

A father once gave his 10-year-old daughter a puzzle of the map of the world for her to put together. Ten minutes later, she handed in the puzzle, perfectly completed. The father was amazed. “How did you know where to put everything, and to do it so fast?” The child had a simple explanation. “Daddy, I am really not so good at geography, but I noticed a picture of myself pasted to the back of the map. I figured if I focus on putting myself back together then the world will come together, too.”

As we navigate our daily lives, it is apparent that we are living in a world rife with discord, marked by political turmoil and disunity, in Israel and around the globe. Thus, the importance of self-improvement takes on a profound meaning. The idea that "First, I need to change myself, then change the world" resonates deeply, encouraging us to acknowledge our own shortcomings and biases before attempting to heal larger divides.

It's easy to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the world's problems, but the lessons from Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur teach us that success lies in focusing on manageable, attainable goals. By connecting our aspirations for personal growth with tangible actions, we can navigate a path of meaningful change. And, as we put ourselves back together, piece by piece, we can join together with our friends, family and neighbors to build a stronger, more unified community on a local, regional and global scale.

This Rosh Hashanah, dream big, but remember that change starts within each of us, and that progress takes place in small steps. Then, not only will we see our resolution withstand the test of time, but we will also see a gradual change in the world around us until we speedily merit that time promised by our prophets of old, a time of world peace, perfection and tranquility.

May you be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life for a Shana Tova Umetukah, a good and sweet new year for all.

Rabbi Zaklos Fishel serves at Chabad Jewish Center of Naples.