Happy New Year

Iran played down President Barack Obama's new video message to the Iranian people on Friday, saying it welcomed the overtures but warned that decades of mistrust can't easily be erased.

The President called out for understanding based on common human values, but did not remind the Muslim community who continues warring over Israel, that the Jewish New Year is also only a few weeks away. The Torah/Teaching celebrates a new year in each of the four seasons commemorating one of the four life forms. In the fall is the new year for the earth called Rosh HaShana, in the winter the new year for the trees called Tuba Shavot when the sap begins to rise—the essence of water; in the spring the new year for the human being—Passover. In the summer is celebrated the animal and fire.

The human being is commiserate with the element of air because we have the ability to articulate thoughts into coherent speech. The basis of our ability to communicate complex ideas is the foundation of freedom of choice. As God says in the Torah, I place before you life and death, blessings (Barack) and curses have I put before you—chose life so you and your children will live.