“Shanah Tovah” Does Not Mean “Happy New Year”

By Rabbi Alex Freedman.

We all say “Shanah Tovah” around Rosh Hashanah, and we all say “Happy new year” around January 1st. But they do not mean the same thing.

“Shanah Tovah” means “Have a good year.” And “good” does not always mean “happy.”

Of course I wish we all do have a happy 5785, but that feels out of touch right now. With the horrors of October 7th fresh in our minds; antisemitism incidents at record numbers; the plight of the hostages still in Gaza pressing down on our hearts; and the uncertainty of Israel’s immediate future because of what is happening in Lebanon, this is decidedly not a happy time for the Jewish people. And yet we will gather soon as families and a Beth El community to celebrate the new year with its renewed potential. And we should still say “Shanah Tovah” with conviction.

“Shanah Tovah” means “Have a good year.” And “Tovah/good” takes us to the beginning of Genesis, when G-d creates the world and sees each feature as “Tov/good.” In fact, there is actually one day when G-d creates something and does not declare it to be “good.” The second day is when G-d creates the firmament, the atmosphere that divides the lower waters from the upper. Something about that does not merit the appellation “G-d saw that it was good.”

We keep reading and see that the phrase “G-d saw that it was good” then appears twice on the third day, when G-d gathered the lower waters into oceans and later created seed bearing fruit. What accounts for this unique placement?

The Etz Hayim Humash cites Rashi and shares: “The Sages explain this as due to the act of separation on that day, which may be necessary but is never wholly good…” In other words, what is “good” for the Torah is when an action is complete and makes whole. Division is the opposite.

In this light, we should each wish each other a “Shanah Tovah,” a year when we become more whole, more united, and more complete. May 5785 bring such blessings to all of us.