A Bee Sweet New Year (Rosh Hashanah Family Service Sermon 5773…9/17)
Costume: I dress as a Bumble bee
Props: Bee signs with phrases
Handout: Each child gets bee stickers for face or hands
I heard, last year, there was a ladybug on your bee-mah for HH days, and frankly, I was a little offended. Don’t bother repenting for hurting my feelings. I just decided to show up here to let you know that of all the bugs in the world, I’m the only one that matters on Rosh Hashanah, bee-cause it is thanks to me that you have a SWEET New Year!
In the beginning, when God created the world, God gathered all of the creatures of creation, and asked,
“How will we celebrate the birthday of my world?”
“What will we wish people when we see them or write to them?”
“What food will represent the holiday, the way latkes represent Chanukah and matzah represents Passover?”
After all, you can’t say “Happy Birthday or Happy Anniversary” to the world.
The lion shouted, “Have a ROARING New Year!”
The cow said, “Have a MOO-valous New Year!”
The cakes and challahs said, “Have a YUMMY and CRUMB-Y New Year!”
The apples offered, “Have a TART and SMART New Year.”
The chicken clucked, “Have a CLUCKY New Year.”
And you can just imagine what some of the other suggestions were, but none of them were as good as mine. I just buzzed to the front and got in God’s ear and said,
“How about wishing people a SWEET New Year!
Being a sharing and caring kinda bee, I even said that the challahs and apples could be dipped in my honey so they could be included…imagine wishing someone a “crummy New Year?!” “What was that challah thinking?!” I even offered that the apple could come first, since A comes before H!
“I told God that my honey would help everyone taste the SWEET New Year and that my idea was just the best!” I also explained to God that I make honey by going flower to flower, which helps teach that we are all connected in Creation.
And I can’t make honey without the flowers. I sip nectar from them with my long tongue and make about 10 trips a day to bring it to the hive. It is hard work. But, going flower to flower helps the flowers grow. You can help nature and bees that are threatened by planting flowers in your yard and at your temple. Every pound of honey needs two million flowers! So plant flowers and love nature so you don’t endanger bees. Thanks.
I can’t make honey alone. I have to do it with all my friends and family, which would teach you that you need to live in community.
And the only way to have honey is to share it, and isn’t that what we are celebrating… sharing what God has created?
And even though my honey is sticky, it does remind us to stick together!! That’s what Jews do, isn’t it? We stick together. Israel has always been called the “land of milk and honey” since the time of the Torah. Milk for babies and honey for the rest of us!
Some of the other creatures and creations reminded God that I sting and that people are scared of bees.
But, God told them to
BEE-NICE!
God likes nice kids and nice parents!
I won, of course, and now you all wish people a happy and SWEET New Year, and eat apples with honey BECAUSE OF ME!
God also liked my choice because bees follow our queen bee. We each do our job and because we all work together, we make honey for everyone to share. A Beehive is like a temple and our world. We all need to do our part and work together. Do you have a queen Bee at your temple? I bet she’s nice!
And God also wanted me to remind you of a few things for the New Year, things that I teach my BABY BEE, like being sweet and sharing his sweetness with others.
BEE-Nice
BEE– Polite
BEE-Kind
BEE-Caring
BEE-Generous
BEE-Jewish
BEE-Sweet, even to your brothers and sisters if they are annoying
And BEE-Lieve – God loves you. Love God back.
If you haven’t been sweet, and kind, and caring and polite, and nice, and generous, and “really Jewish” all year, then you need to say you are sorry before you eat my honey.
And just so you know, I will BEE-Back next year! Look for me out near the apples and honey!
Have a “sweet” New Year!