On One Foot: Developing Your Jewish Core Strength

A Rosh Hashanah Message
Rabbi Cantor Jacqueline Menaker

L’shana Tovah. You may know this classic Talmudic tale: A man came to the sage Hillel and said, “Teach me the entire Torah while I stand on one foot.” Hillel replied, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary—go and learn it.” (Shabbat 31a)

Recently, I tried standing on one foot—literally—and failed. This July, I slipped and fractured my fifth metatarsal. I thought I could manage with crutches, relying on my “good” leg. But I quickly discovered I had no strength there either. I fell—again—and was immobilized. I couldn’t drive and had to depend on others for almost everything. (I even brought my crutches, walker, and boot tonight for show and tell!)

Only recently, standing firmly again on ha’adamah—solid ground—in my orthopedic High Holy Day shoes (they even match my robe!), I began to rebuild strength. But I’ve learned it takes time, practice, and mindful attention. The “core” lesson is this: without core strength—physical or spiritual—nothing holds.

Tonight begins Rosh Hashanah, Yom HaDin, the Day of Judgment, and Yom Hazikaron, the Day of Remembrance. We ask: What kind of person have I become? What kind of community are we building? What is the core of my Jewish identity?

In Unetaneh Tokef, we proclaim: “Who will live and who will die… who will fall and who will rise…” It’s not only about fate—it’s about readiness. Will we have the strength to rise when we fall? Rosh Hashanah calls us to rebuild our inner core—the spiritual muscle that holds us when the world shakes. We’ve all heard the advice as we age: strengthen your core! Physically, that means the abdomen, spine, diaphragm, hips, and pelvic floor—which protect us. The same is true of our Jewish core—the spiritual, emotional, and communal strength that keeps us upright.

In times of antisemitism, polarization, and uncertainty, we must strengthen ourselves Jewishly. Rosh Hashanah asks: What’s really at my center? What am I standing on? When one area weakens, how can we strengthen the others?
The path of Mussar teaches that strength comes from middot—intentional character traits.

● Ometz Lev (Courage): inner strength to do what’s right, even in fear.
● Anavah (Humility): knowing our worth while recognizing that God is in control.
● Rachamim (Compassion): showing up for others in pain—essential for Rosh Hashanah.
● Ometz (Resilience): the will to fall and rise again.
● Tikvah (Hope): a spiritual muscle; Rosh Hashanah is its training ground.

Each trait is a spiritual “plank” strengthening our Jewish core from within. The shofar is our wake-up call—not just individually but communally. Judaism isn’t a solo workout. We strengthen together. Learn about organizations like the URJ and the Religious Action Center. Attend the Consultation on Conscience in December. Teens can join our next L’Taken trip in March. Be a delegate to the URJ Biennial in 2026. Join our civil rights trip in May
2026, or interfaith programs like Bridge of Faith. Kudos to those who prepared through Elul—attending Selichot and praying with Mishkan HaLev. Continue the practice:

● Choose one middah each week and work on it.
● Show up for a Friday night Erev Shabbat service, even when it’s easier not to.
● Attend a weekly Torah Talk session.
● Host a Shabbat Coffee and Conversation in your home.
● Volunteer, visit someone “immobile,” join the Caring or Kitchen Committees.

October 7 was not only a horrific terror attack – it was a spiritual earthquake. It revealed that many of our foundations were weaker than we thought. Some realized that their Jewish roots were shallow; others felt alone, stunned by silence and hostility. This moment in Jewish history demands core strength-the kind we build before the next crisis hits. So what’s the “one foot” we stand on this Rosh Hashanah? Not perfection or certainty. We stand on Jewish core strength rooted in Torah and character and strengthened daily, stabilized by our Shirat Hayam community, and propelled by hope and resilience. This Rosh Hashanah, let’s commit to developing our Jewish core—to fall less, rise faster, and stand stronger for ourselves, for each other, and for the Jewish future. The world needs strong, grounded, compassionate Jews—now more than ever.

May 5786 be a year of strength, renewal, and standing tall.
Rabbi Cantor Jacqueline Menaker