At the end of his long discourse, Moses breaks into song in Ha’azinu, painting a poetic picture of Israel’s journey into the unknown. It is a song of warning, a song of memory, and a song of hope. In the same way, as we emerge from the High Holy Days and set out into the year ahead, we too are stepping into a new journey. The question is: how do we prepare for it?
Like any journey, life requires preparation before we set out. The Days of Awe were our time of packing, reflecting, and making ready. But now we need to move forward with intention.
First, we need a map and GPS. Where do you want to go this year? What are your long-term goals, your hopes, your dreams for yourself, your family, your community? Without direction, we will wander aimlessly. Rabbi Ben Azzai once said, “Run to do even a minor mitzvah, and flee from sin, for one mitzvah draws another mitzvah, and one sin draws another sin” (Avot 4:2). Our choices set the course of our lives. Yeshua reminds us that He Himself is the way, the truth, and the life—the clearest map of all.
Second, we need road signs. No wise traveler chooses a road without markers, because that road almost guarantees getting lost. Our sages taught, “Make for yourself a teacher, acquire for yourself a friend” (Avot 1:6). Mentors and role models keep us steady on the way. The Torah and prophets serve as signs, and Yeshua, as the living Word, is the clearest marker pointing us toward God’s heart.
Third, we must check the motor oil. Every car runs smoother when it’s well cared for. In our journey, determination is the oil that keeps the engine running. Rabbi Tarfon taught, “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it” (Avot 2:16). Determination keeps us in the work even when the way is long. Yeshua embodies that perseverance: “For the joy set before Him He endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). He shows us what it means to keep going with courage, even when the road is steep.
Fourth, we need an emergency kit. No trip is without hazards—flat tires, wrong turns, unexpected delays. The rabbis said that even the righteous stumble seven times and rise again (Proverbs 24:16, Midrash Mishlei). The mark of faith is not avoiding failure but learning how to recover. Yeshua’s resurrection shows us that setbacks—even the most final-seeming ones—are never the end of the story. God’s power always opens a way forward.
Fifth, we must pack some energy bars. A long journey can be exhausting. Just as a snack restores the body, so too words of Torah and moments of faith restore the soul. Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav said, “A little bit is also good. If you cannot pray much, at least say a little; if you cannot learn much, learn a little.” Small provisions keep us going. And Messiah gives us daily bread—our manna in the wilderness—that sustains us one step at a time.
Finally, we need a cell phone. No one should travel alone. The psalmist declares, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18). Prayer is the call that always goes through. Yeshua assures us that our Father hears: “Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13). The line is always open, and the answer is always near.
With these tools, and with God’s presence guiding us through Messiah, we can reach the summit of our personal mountains, step by step, day by day. The journey of Israel began with a song on Moses’ lips, and our journey begins with the same melody of hope: that God walks with us, and that with His help we can face whatever lies ahead.
So as we step into this new year, let us go forward with a map in our hands, determination in our hearts, and Yeshua as our companion on the way. May this year be for each of us a sweet journey of growth, renewal, and inspiration.