Dear Friends, 
One of the easiest mistakes in life is to confuse what we have with who we are. A beautiful home. A fine car. A closet full of name brands. These things can bring comfort and enjoyment, and may we all be blessed with them in abundance and know how to appreciate them. They may enrich a life, but they are not the essence of life. That distinction is so important, so fundamental that the Torah builds it into the architecture of a home.
In this week’s Torah portion, Ki Teitzei, we read:
כִּי תִבְנֶה בַּיִת חָדָשׁ וְעָשִׂיתָ מַעֲקֶה לְגַגֶּךָ
“When you build a new house, you shall make a guardrail for your roof.”
On the simplest level, the reason is clear. A roof needs a protective barrier so that no one falls. Trust me, after everything the city required for our new rooftop at Chabad Naples, I now know quite a bit about guardrails. Every requirement and every detail had to be exactly right. It has been quite a project. You’ll love it. But there is also a beautiful lesson here. Building a new home represents reaching a place of success and security. You have worked hard. You have nice things. You finally have a place to park the car, display your collection, and hang the television on the wall. Enjoy the home and build a guardrail. Create a boundary between what you possess and who you are. Never allow the things surrounding you to define your worth, identity, or purpose.
The roof needs a guardrail to protect a person from falling. The soul needs one so that we do not fall into the trap of mistaking what we have for who we are. Whether or not you have every tchotchke you want, you are a child of Hashem. You are here because Hashem wanted you here, and nothing you own or lack can make that more or less true.
Rosh Hashanah gives us an opportunity to rebuild that guardrail. Jewish thought speaks about the difference between the ikar and the tafel, between what is primary and what is secondary. Throughout the year, those priorities can become confused. We give enormous attention to things that are ultimately secondary while neglecting the people, values, and relationships that are essential. Rosh Hashanah invites us to put everything back in its proper place.
That is also part of the meaning of Tashlich. We stand beside the water and ask Hashem to cast our sins into the depths of the sea. On Sunday of Rosh Hashanah, we will gather at the beach to hear the shofar and experience Tashlich together. Here’s the exciting part: the inner work does not have to wait! Right now, we can begin throwing away the grudges, distractions, burdens, and misplaced priorities that weigh us down. Keep the blessings Hashem has given us. Toss out the confusion that makes the secondary feel essential, and make room for what actually matters.
That is why this Rosh Hashanah, let’s focus on the essentials. Come join us at Chabad Naples. Throughout the services, I’ll share running commentary, messages that speak to real life, and, I hope, a little humor too. We’ll pray, sing, celebrate, enjoy amazing food, and share the friendship and camaraderie of being together. Come recharge, reconnect, and begin the year uplifted, surrounded by warmth and family.
Remember who you are, and be there for one another. Be there with one another. Enjoy the house. Drive the car. Treasure the tchotchkes. And build the guardrail. Let the blessings fill your life. Never let them become your life.
Wishing you and your family a peaceful and meaningful Shabbat,
Rabbi Fishel and Ettie Zaklos