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The Cantor's Voice
December 2007

I went in for my annual physical with my wonderful physician in late October. After being escorted into the examining room in a timely fashion (yes, there still are physicians who are sensitive to their patient's schedules) the nurse took my vital signs.

She slid the blood pressure monitor on my arm, and the machine began to take a reading. The nurse then asked me, "How old are you, Mr. Miller?" and I responded, "Forty three."

Thirty seconds later she said, "My parents are both 43."

I shook my head in disbelief and immediately asked her how old she was. "Nineteen."

I almost fell off the table.

I can easily remember the days when I'd visit the doctor and he seemed soooo old to me. And now this. Time passes by.

While we have many Jewish markers of time (Rosh Chodesh and Rosh HaShana come to mind) we also have secular markers of time. The secular New Year, 2008 is almost here. Incredible.

Every marker of time, be it religious or secular, gives us an opportunity to look back at what we've accomplished, and to look ahead at how we might improve. New Years is not Rosh HaShana -- not by any stretch -- but it is yet another indication that life is fleeting, and we have another chance to improve ourselves.

We can improve our attitude, our relationships, and ourselves. We can always strive to do better. As Rabbi Gotlieb has stated on more than one occasion, Judaism does not teach us to be perfect, however, it demands improvement. We can always do better.

Let's look forward to 2008 as an opportunity to improve. Happy New Year.

Keith Miller
Hazzan
Director of Education