If you happened upon Yahoo News last month, you may have seen a revealing clip of interviews with 9-year olds, who told us how they felt about some of the things and people who had a major impact on them during their young life, in the aught years of the 21st century. For example, the two things that they had heard about most (pre-Tiger Woods) were 9/11 and the death of Michael Jackson. These kids were unfamiliar with "dial-up," the sound of the traditional ring of a telephone, and they spoke about their i-pods as we would speak of tv's and newspapers.

They all knew about "turning green" and global warming, they were afraid of "the war," which of course for them was Iraq, and they all knew something about terrorism and terrorists.

I'm wondering about our congregation's own 9-year olds (and maybe a few years above). What has impacted them the most since 2000--both in their secular and in their Jewish worlds? Perhaps this would be a good time for all of our families--of all ages--to take a little time--perhaps at a Shabbat meal--and talk about what in Judaism and our Temple have impacted you all the most this century--and even more, how you may have impacted Judaism and our Temple!

(If you have to think too hard in either direction, you know what that means.......).

Let's make the beginning of the secular new year just as worthy as the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah--worthy of our thoughts, our resolutions, and most importantly, of our actions.

And let the interviewing process begin!!