It’s that time of year again: my annual return to the JCC gym, where the exercise bikes have been waiting patiently for me. I should probably also commit to eating less ice cream. This year’s resolution: I’m going to keep this up past January 31st.

 

Every year, we get two New Years. January 1 shows up with fireworks, countdowns, and the sudden belief that we’re all going to become better people overnight. Rosh Hashanah shows up with the shofar, some serious soul‑searching, and a very different idea of what it means to start fresh.

 

The secular New Year is all about goals: exercise more, eat better, stop pretending ice cream is a food group. It’s hopeful, it’s personal, and it’s basically us trying to reinvent ourselves with sheer willpower.

 

Rosh Hashanah takes another approach. Instead of dreaming up new goals, it asks us to look back at the year we just lived. It’s about teshuvah — returning to who we’re supposed to be, reconnecting with God and with people.

 

These two New Years also treat time differently. January 1 feels like hitting a reset button: new round, new list, let’s try this again. Rosh Hashanah feels like adding a new chapter to a story we’re already writing. The High Holy Days give us a chance to edit the draft before it’s published. It’s not about starting over — it’s about moving forward with intention.

 

For those of us who celebrate both, the rhythm can actually be pretty meaningful. Rosh Hashanah gives us depth and reflection. January 1 gives us energy and momentum. Together, they help us shape the year with both purpose and possibility.

 

More time in shul. More time in the gym. Less time in the fridge.

 

Wishing you a Happy Secular New Year!