Keep your eyes open!

Living in Southwest Florida we cannot help but be aware of the presence water,  and of some of its inhabitants, like fish. When we perform the interesting custom of Tashlich at Rosh Hashonah, have you ever wondered why we pray by the  water -- with fish?  Why do we go for the fish?  
Fish do not have eyelids;  their eyes are always open. On Rosh Hashonah we commit ourselves to keeping our eyes open and being aware of what is around us for the rest of the year as well.
It's a lot easier to close our eyes and be oblivious to what's around us, but knowing millions of children in Africa are starving, we think, how can we sit down to a hearty meal?  How can we float around in our pools knowing our neighbors are suffering?  How can we enjoy ourselves, knowing our brothers and sisters are at war? When we really open your eyes, we will see the harsh reality of what surrounds us.
This week we were once again made painfully aware of senseless suffering around, with the murder of a soldier in n Canada and the young life taken from a child in Israel. Please bring light to the world with the Shabbat candles today - in memory of three-month old Chaya Zissel Braun  who was murdered in Jerusalem this week, and in memory of Nathan Cirillo the soilder killed in Ottawa.

On Rosh Hashonah we are reminded to open our eyes for the rest of the year.