Article in The Times of Israel by Andy Blumenthal: Rosh Hashanah is quickly approaching, and it’s an important time to think about our lives: what’s real and what isn’t, and how do we portray ourselves in terms of the fake faces that we so beautifully model for the outside world as well as the real faces that reflect what’s actually going on inside each of us.

1. 9/14/2019 Facing Facts on Rosh Hashanah | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
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THE BLOGS
Andy Blumenthal
Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal
Rosh Hashanah is quickly approaching, and it’s an important time to think
about our lives: what’s real and what isn’t, and how do we portray ourselves in
Facing Facts on Rosh
Hashanah

2. 9/14/2019 Facing Facts on Rosh Hashanah | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/facing-facts-on-rosh-hashanah/ 2/3
terms of the fake faces that we so beautifully model for the outside world as well
as the real faces that reflect what’s actually going on inside each of us.
My father used to half-jokingly say:
Yes, it’s funny, but there is lots of truth to it. I heard one person say recently
that they were tired of their fake Facebook posts where everything looks oh so
perfect even when it isn’t. The person then suddenly went from happy, smiling,
and laughing to a very deep weeping over a horrible tragedy going on in their
lives that none of us had prior known about.
In a sense, we all live at least two lives–represented by the two faces we wear:
The first is the happy face, where we portray ourselves as if everything is going
so well, almost near-perfect in our lives (our vacations, accomplishments,
celebrations, and so on), and this is the face that we routinely show to the world.
Then, there is the second face, which is essentially where everything is not
(always) quite so rosy, where life’s challenges, troubles, and hardships take their
tangible toll, and this is the face that we learn to keep private and regularly hide
from the world.
Usually, it comes down to a rationale that goes something like this: just imagine
what would people think of us if they really knew us for who we are and what we
were actually going through? Yet the funny thing is that everyone is going
through something–that’s life!
And so the truth of the matter is, as my father used to say:
If everyone has (at least) two faces, then why in the world would s/he choose to
wear that one?”
“
We all have our baskets in life, and you wouldn’t want to change baskets with
anybody else.”
“

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andy Blumenthal is business and technology leader who writes frequently about Jewish life, culture,
and security. All opinions are his own.
My oldest daughter says it this way:
Someone else’s life basket would do you no good for what you need to be doing
and improving on in your life. Each of us has our own paths and things we need
to work on to try to “perfect” our souls, and G-d provides the challenges and
opportunities to help us in our unique life journey.
In a couple of weeks, when we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, we come knowing that
there is no mask to be worn in front of our Maker, and truly, we are naked before
Him in all our thoughts and deeds. We can’t pretend anymore that our lives or
ourselves are perfect, but rather this is the time for true and earnest reflection,
repentance, as well as judgment for the New Year based on what each of us is
really all about.
May each of us have the courage and conviction to face our real selves, to learn,
grow, improve, and ultimately to self-actualize, and may we receive G-d’s mercy
and blessings for a happy and healthy New Year!
G-d gives us all exactly what we need in life.”
“