Hearing hope in the shofar

(JNS) — At sundown on Monday, Sept. 22, Jews around the world will gather to mark Rosh Hashanah —the day on which we acknowledge our past and pray for our future.

This year, as we usher in 5786, we are called once again to reflection, repentance and renewal. It is a season of hope, of honey and sweetness, even when the world beyond our doors feels bitter.

American Jews, like our fellow Americans, are living through a time of domestic polarization and global upheaval. Events arrive fast and furiously. The pace and weight of the news can leave us disoriented or even disheartened. Many understand...