ach year at this season, I call to mind two Talmudic passages that help me put things into perspective. One deals with a great sage, Akabia ben Mahalalel.

Akabia was at odds with his colleagues on several points of halakha. Although he was a minority of one, he would not concede to the majority rulings. His colleagues made him an offer: “Akabia, if you will retract your views and accept ours, we will make you head of the Sanhedrin. You will then have great status and great authority.”

Akabia declined this offer, and responded with an immortal line: “I prefer to be called a fool every day of my life, but not be wicked in the eyes of G-d for even a moment.”

Akabia taught us something very important. We must try to view our lives, to the extent possible, from the vantage point of G-d. If we realize that we will have an accounting to give and that we will not be able to deceive the Judge in any way, we can hope to keep proper perspective on our lives.

Our goal is not to impress others, not to gain power or wealth, not to win ephemeral success, not to outsmart 'the system': our goal is to be able to stand honestly in G-d's presence. We must try to live our lives so as not to be wicked in the eyes of God for even an instant.

The other Talmudic passage tells of the son of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi. This young man, a promising scholar in his own right, died. The grief was great. But then, amazingly, the son came back to life. (Perhaps this an early example of the near-death phenomenon which is being studied by modem psychologists and doctors.) The joy was great.

Rabbi Yehoshua realized that his son had gone to the next world and had now returned to this world. Rabbi Yehoshua asked his son: “What did you see in the next world?” The son replied: “olam hafukh ra-iti, I saw a topsy-turvy world. Those who are great in this world, are of little account in the next world. Those who are little-esteemed in this world, are highly honored in the next world.

Rabbi Yehoshua stated: “No, son, you did not see a topsyturvy world. You saw things as they really are, olam barur ra-ita.”

The message of this story is that ultimate reality is the truth from the vantage point of G-d and from the vantage point of the next world. In this world, we are easily deceived. We think of some people as powerful and great and successful, when in fact they are little esteemed in the next world. We think of some people as insignificant, powerless, unsuccessful, when in fact they are highly esteemed in the eyes of G-d.

Our rabbinic sages, in describing Rosh Hashanah, drew on the symbol of the Book of Life. The imagery is that G-d sits in judgment over each of us, and decides in which book to inscribe our names. What this symbolism is really teaching is: our lives need to be viewed in perspective of G-d's judgment, and that we are answerable for ourselves to G-d.

That is what is ultimately important and genuine. No more self delusion, no more mask-wearing, no more chasing after illusions and shadows. When we look into the mirror, we should see who we really are — not idealized versions of who we think we are. During this period of Teshuvah, may we more clearly develop our self-perception; more wisely lead our lives; more happily and meaningfully strengthen ourselves, our families and our community. Amen.

I wish you and your families a Happy and Healthy New Year, a peaceful and meaningful 5770.