In January 2024, an MRI to see if I had a spinal issue turned my life upside down: it revealed a kidney tumor. My spine was fine, but at age 42, I suddenly wondered, “Do I have cancer? Am I going to die?”
Over the past year and a half, I’ve learned many answers. Yes, it was cancer. Yes, I needed my entire left kidney removed and subsequent treatment. But the cancer had not spread, and I was fortunate to access cutting-edge therapies at Memorial Sloan Kettering. I endured a grueling year of immunotherapy and oral oncology medication, accompanied by fatigue, nausea and discomfort. I thought about quitting treatment countless times. But I persisted, supported by my family and our Temple Beth Shalom community.
As a rabbi, I accompany others through illness and grief regularly. I offer care, comfort, support and hope. But experiencing a life-threatening illness myself was an altogether different experience.
As the Jewish High Holidays approach—Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur—I find myself reflecting on a central prayer from this season, Unetaneh Tokef. It acknowledges life’s fragility and the unpredictability of fate:
"On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed — how many will die and how many will be born, who will live and who will die, who will live a long life and who will come to an untimely end... But teshuvah (repentance), tefillah (prayer), and tzedakah (acts of generosity) have the power to transform our destiny."
These words remind us that life is finite—but carries profound meaning. Knowing our time is limited calls us to live fully and to cherish the ordinary blessings we often overlook. It teaches us that joy, even when hard-won, is precious.
The High Holidays invite us to ask ourselves:
How do we confront our mortality, and how does it shape the way we live?
What do we most appreciate about the gift of being alive?
What changes are we called to make this year?
Life’s fragility is not meant to paralyze us with fear; it is meant to awaken us to gratitude, presence and connection. In confronting mortality, we are reminded that each day is a blessing, each act of kindness matters, and every moment we are alive is precious.
This season, I invite you—regardless of faith tradition—to pause, reflect and embrace the gift of life.
Sarah Freidson is the Rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom in Mahopac.
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