Rosh Hashanah is coming up next week and I wanted to make sure to use this space to wish all of our brothers, friends, families and supporters, the happiest of new year’s, a Shanah Tovah!

Each year at Rosh Hashanah, we say, “Ha-yom harat olam,” meaning, “Today is the birthday of the world.” We say this to mark this New Year’s celebration and to note that we have entered into the Days of Awe, a time of reflection and repentance.

Another way to find meaning in that phrase is to look at the birthday of the world as a point in time that each of us – all of G-d’s creatures – pass before G-D and ask themselves, “Have I done my best in the past year to make the world a better place?”

That’s a pretty heavy sentiment.

In Linda Heller’s children’s book, “Today is the Birthday of the World,” she explores the idea that every living thing has a unique contribution to make to the world. After asking all manners of animals what they have done to make the world a better place, G-D asks a child the same question, and upon hearing that all of his creatures have been the best they could be, G-d is happy and declares that their goodness is what makes the world a better place.

Sometimes children’s movies and books remind us all of the most important lessons.

I’m proud to be leading our fraternity today because I hear virtually every day about our brothers contributing to the goodness in the world. Whether it is our brothers at Indiana University earlier this month who combined our partnership with Gift of Life with their rush efforts and ended up getting more than 100 people swabbed and entered into Gift of Life’s lifesaving registry or its our brothers around the world preparing to implement service projects to mark the two-year anniversary of October 7 through AEPi’s Strength Through Service campaign, our brothers are making the world a better place. In the coming weeks, we will be highlighting many of these programs that once again demonstrate AEPi’s commitment to tikkun olam, repairing the world.

Lately, it feels like the world is broken, that we are beyond repair. But then I see these efforts, these sometimes small and simple steps towards goodness, and I know that we are not shattered, that there is hope. For every bit of darkness there is light. For every bit of despair, there is optimism. For every bit of hate, there is love.

I’m looking forward to celebrating Rosh Hashanah with my family. Let’s all use the holiday as a moment of reflection and a renewed commitment to doing our part to bring more goodness to the world.

But, for now, I have a book that I want to go read to my children.

L’ Shanah Tovah U’Metukah – Best Wishes from me and all of AEPi for a good and sweet year.