Rosh HaShanah: The Reflection in the Mirror

By Rabbi Ariel Platt

Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year, begins Monday, September 22^nd at sundown, and ends at sundown on Wednesday, September 24. It’s a time deeply rooted in reflection, accountability, and the hope for renewal — not just for those who observe the holiday, but for anyone feeling the weight of the moment and wondering what might come next.

In my own reflections, one teaching that has stuck with me is from the Baal Shem Tov, a Jewish mystic, who once said, “Your fellow is your mirror.”

The Torah teaches that every human being is created Btzelem Elohim — in the image of God. That doesn’t mean we are perfect. It means we each carry the sacred capacity for kindness, growth, missteps, compassion, and resilience. The full spectrum of humanity — the good, the hard, the in-between — lives in each of us.

But we don’t live in isolation. With over 8 billion people in the world, we’re constantly reflecting one another. If each of us is made in the image of the Divine, then the world itself becomes a collective mirror — a reflection of what we all bring to it.

Rosh HaShanah is a time of renewal and self-examination. Whether or not you celebrate the holiday, maybe we can all take this opportunity to look in the mirror — to look into the faces of family, friends, and colleagues — and ask:

This season, let’s hold space for one another with empathy and curiosity. Let’s strive to reflect back the best of what we hope to see — in ourselves and in each other.

Wishing a sweet and meaningful new year to all who celebrate.
And to everyone, may this be a time of reflection, renewal, and hope.