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This evening marks the start of Rosh Hashana, the start of the Jewish calendar year 5774. Our offices will be closed for the rest of this week.<\/p>\nThis evening marks the start of Rosh Hashana, the start of the Jewish calendar year 5774. Our offices will be closed for the rest of this week.<\/p>\n
As I have explained in previous years, this is a period of personal reflection quite different from the partying that characterizes December 31. Instead, a stentorian blast of the shofar<\/i> [ram’s horn] in our synagogues heralds a time of personal and communal introspection, examining the deeds of the past year and looking forward to a year of improvement ahead.<\/p>\n
In writing the content for this blog, and my Twitter feed<\/a>, it has been my intent to challenge my readers to examine issues from a different perspective. <\/p>\n I hope that I have been able to succeed in doing so, without resorting to personal attacks. If I have failed and caused hurt through my words, I am sorry; allow me to express my regret.<\/p>\n The timing was somewhat fitting for last week’s inspirational farewell post by Link Hoewing at the Verizon Public Policy Blog<\/a>. He wrote:<\/p>\n I think respect for others is a key part of good policy making. I have seen over the years far too many instances in which someone participating in a policy debate is attacked, not for what they have said, but because of who they are or where they get their support.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n This perspective, tolerance for, as well as learning from, alternate views, came through a tweet from Kirstine Stewart<\/a> at Twitter Canada:<\/p>\n "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." Aristotle<\/p>\n — Kirstine Stewart (@kirstinestewart) August 30, 2013<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n