We asked readers to share their predictions and hopes for the New Year. Following are the thoughts of Milwaukee psychiatrist H. Steven Moffic. It’s not too late to share your hopes or predictions. Send 200-300 words with the subject line “5770 predictions.”
I write this on September 11, 2009 in the American calendar, the 8th year anniversary of the infamous terrorist attacks on our country. Today Katyusha rockets were again fired into Israel from Lebanon.
Tonight is the first night of our community-wide Selichot weekend. Selichot, which means forgiveness, consists of the prayers and services in the days leading up to the High Holy Days.
Yesterday, a former boss unexpectedly came by my office, as he had done before a prior High Holy Days period, to ask for further forgiveness for making an adverse decision about my career. He said it continues to trouble him many years later. I have forgiven him, but not forgotten.
A psychiatrist, I work part-time in a prison, where the challenges of forgiveness are immense for all of us — for caregivers, guards, prisoners and society.
I am accustomed to trying to figure out meaningful connections between events and thoughts. Freud advocated for “free associations,” where you say whatever comes into your mind. Here’s what’s on my mind as far as hopes and predictions for the 5770 New Year:
It seems to me that Selichot, 9/11, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and my boss all connect to forgiveness in some important ways. Some things, of course, seem tougher to forgive than others.
How can the perpetrators of 9/11 be forgiven by Americans, should they ever even ask? How can Israelis and Palestinians forgive each other after all the years of harm and killing? Did Ishmael ever forgive Abraham for sending him away? Did Isaac ever forgive Abraham for almost sacrificing him? When, if ever, do we stop forgiving our children for what they do wrong?
We know forgiveness helps those who forgive psychologically. It helps relieve the anger that can gnaw at our souls. It helps prevent us from doing something in retribution that we will later regret.
What I hope for in 5770 is that I, the Jewish community, and the larger world will have less need to ask for forgiveness from God and our fellow human beings.
Would I predict this? Knowing human nature, probably not. But there are little sparks of light here and there. The Truth and Reconciliation process in South Africa has seemed to enhance forgiveness, peace, and recovery in that country. The ongoing covenant the Jewish people have with God that necessitates that we keep trying to do so in 5770.
H. Steven Moffic, M.D.
Loading ...