Huff Post: by Menachem Rosensaft.

We must never forget that there were Christians in World War II Europe, a small minority to be sure, who risked their lives to save Jews. And today there are Muslims who join forces with Jews and Christians to espouse and promote a spirit of tolerance.

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As Jews throughout the world are about to observe Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, it is important to bear in mind that the Days of Awe that began last week with Rosh Hashanah, literally the beginning of the year, mark not the start of the Jewish calendar — that occurs in the spring linked to the independence festival of Passover — but rather the onset of a new year for humankind as a whole.

Over Rosh Hashanah we recited, “Hayom harat olam,” or today the world was born. This world includes Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Mormons and Hindus, as well as members of numerous other faith communities, agnostics and atheists.

Every night before he went to sleep, Rabbi Ephraim Fiszele Szapiro (or Shapiro) a Hasidic master who lived in the Polish town of Strykow during the first quarter of the 19th century, would pour himself a glass of vodka, say the blessing over the drink, take a sip from the glass and say aloud, “L’Chaim, Reboyno shel Oylem, L’Chaim, Master of the Universe, a very good night to You.” When his disciples came to him for an explanation, Reb Fiszele asked, “Is God afflicted by human suffering?”

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