L'Shana Tova...Happy New Year. L'Shana Shalom. Peaceful New Year.

Sundown today is Rosh Hashana, the day that marks the start of the Jewish New Year and the beginning of the period of reflection, which ends at sundown on October 6, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The year is 5764 on the Jewish calendar.

I think Jews everywhere have different interpretations of this important period of reflection. In fact, Jews everywhere have different interpretations of just about everything, so why not this. Having discovered my connection to this holy period on my own, I have also created my own sacred space around it. Jewish sages believed that this season of reflection is meant to be an opportunity to examine our souls, to recognize where we may have done wrong, or fallen down, and reconcile with each other and with our God. I like to approach these next few weeks as a bit of a cleansing period, a time to look on the past year and see my growth (or lack thereof) as honestly as I am able. That's the reflection part for me. Not to re-live the memories of the past year, though that can be fun...but rather to really hold a mirror up to the kind of person I have been and see how close I have gotten to the person I want to be. I tend to find that I am more of the person I want to be year after year. Perfect, no. But more honest, more sincere, less judgmental and more loving. Usually.

The other part of this season is atonement. Again, there are different interpretations about this practice. I see this period of atonement as a time to seek forgiveness from each other and ourselves. I believe that by seeking, and granting, this forgiveness, we are accessing the God within each of us and, therefore, in the process seeking and receiving God's forgiveness, too. I try to take this atonement thing seriously. You see, in the reflection process I inevitably stumble on several occasions in which I have "wronged" another person. Usually it's not malicious, just misguided. When I can see it, I try to ask forgiveness. If possible, I ask the person directly. Sometimes that's too hard to do...in those cases I try to forgive myself for my behavior and I secretly vow to not repeat the behavior. Not sure if that counts in the atonement rules...I mean, do I actually need to call someone up and seek forgiveness, like Step 4 of the 12 Step program? I don't know...maybe. I should ask a Rabbi about that one. I will probably ask a Reform Rabbi since those rules seem to be more lax.

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One thing I am really sick of is the constant characterization of the California recall as some kind of circus. Yes, it is ridiculous that we are having this recall. But we are having it and it is crucial that the voters take it seriously. Regardless of how people feel about Gray Davis, regardless of whether or not you support his ouster, this election is serious business, as is every election. Sure, there are 135 candidates - including porn stars, children of basketball stars, former child stars, action-movie stars, etc. - but that does not make it any less of an election. Circus, maybe. But that was what they said about Florida in 2000 and look where it got us.

Why is it that just about everyone in my family lives in one of the two states with an international reputation for ridiculous election shenanigans? Shit, my mom lives in the actual county in Florida that was home to the butterfly ballot controversy.

One of these days I will laugh at it...not take it so seriously. I don't see it happening anytime soon. But a girl can dream!

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Watched part of the Democratic presidential candidates' debate last night. I still don't know who I will end up supporting. But I must say, I am liking them all better and better (okay, except for Dennis Kucinich who is just a little creepy). Yes, it is unfortunate that they have to lash out at each other...but I think they are doing a good job of not going overboard in doing so while at the same time hammering away at George Bush. John Kerry seemed strong and more passionate than usual. Howard Dean, the target of those who were on the attack, did a good job of fending them off and also reminding us all that the real target should be George Bush. Wes Clark was fine. He is a looker, that guy. And I thought it took BIG BALLS for him to show up to a policy wonky debate after only 9 days on the campaign trail. That meant, of course, that he didn't have a lot of specific answers. But he was good...and he showed up, which, in my opinion, showed something special about him - he can think on his feet, he can perform under pressure. Don't get me wrong, I don't think for one minute that he wasn't expertly prepped by a team of, well, experts. But there is only so much you can do in only 9 days. Carol Moseley-Braun did a great job, too. I don't take her candidacy too seriously, let's face it, she won't win. But I do take her more seriously after seeing her debate last night. She represented herself well and she was careflu to always remind viewers that the Democratic Party is the party of fiscal responsibility and prosperity (a la Bill Clinton). Well done Ambassador!

Joe Lieberman, well, he's just boring. He is a bit of an anachronism within this crowd. I don't know why but for some reason he represents to me the losing past of the Democratic Party. I mean, technically we didn't lose in 2000. But we sure didn't win, right? And that was him...his campaign with Al Gore. So I just don't like him being part of this group. But he is a good orator and a lot of people liike him. And, you know, I do like seeing a nice Jewish boy in the mix! Dick Gephardt is cool. A nice liberal Democrat. He will never win. But he is passionate and energized and we need that in our party. So he's good to have in the mix. Bob Graham did a great job, despite seeming like the Grandpa in the group. Everyone talks about him for VP...I did like him last night, though I hate the fact that he voted to support Miguel Estrada for the federal bench. Pure pandering on his part. But he did a good job, represented my Party well.

John Edwards...I don't know about him. I mean, he is good, he is smart, he is handsome. But he may be a little too slick for me. And I have to say that I am inherently suspicious of a politician with a Southern accent. It was one of the things that turned me off to Bill Clinton during the primaries in 1991/1992. I am not saying it's rational, it just is. But Edwards is good...sharp, well-spoken, committed, passionate. All things we need to be portraying to the voters right now. Al Sharpton is just damn funny. And has a better grasp of the issues than I would have ever given him credit for. Every movement needs its fringe and I think Al Sharpton serves a good purpose - he keeps the African American base engaged, he provides comic relief and, because he is such an unlikely candidate, he has the freedom to say some of the things other candidates may be too afraid to say.

And so I am hopeful.