#NEWYEARPRAYER for Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah Prayer by Beth Surdut

As I add a pomegranate to a custom designed  tallit that a bride will give to her groom for their  wedding  ceremony, I'm thinking about the stories attached to the pomegranate:
In Judaism, the 613 seeds in a pomegranate equal the 613 mitzvot we live by even though many of us would be hard pressed to recite the ten commandments by heart.
In Greek and Roman mythology, the 6 seeds that Persephone/Proserpina ate while she was held captive by Hades imprisoned her in the underworld for 6 months of the year. Her mother Demeter/Ceres, goddess of fruitful nature, mourned the seasonal loss of her child, causing fields to lie fallow.  The winters of her discontent became ours as did the spring and summers of her joy. 

May the seeds we plant bear fruit.

May we intentionally extend kindness to all living beings.

May we act towards others as we would want them to act towards us.

May we make our colorful marks in the Book of Life.

L'shanah tovah!