Podcasts religion From the Bimah: Jewish Lessons for Life Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Sermon: When I Was Younger with Rabbi Michelle Robinson

Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Sermon: When I Was Younger with Rabbi Michelle Robinson

Published: Sept. 16, 2023, 4:50 p.m.

One of my closest friends tells of an impish childhood. Facing his parents\u2019 discipline, whether after a homework assignment not turned in, a skirmish with his sister, or a fly-ball through the living room window, they would ask him, \u201cHow did this happen? Did you do this?\u201d To which he would reply, \u201cYes \u2013 but that was when I was younger.\u201d

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We sometimes tease about that mantra, adorably employed to excuse any error, no matter how recent. We test its range: \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d I might say, \u201cI was texting while we were talking on the phone just now, but that was when I was younger.\u201d

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It never fails to turn frustration into laughter \u2013 perhaps because of how ridiculous it is. Taken literally, it would be a spectacularly bad way to approach our wrongs. After all, even the worst things we ever did share one indelible truth: We did them when we were younger.

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But back in April, I had an interaction that made me look again at my friend\u2019s childhood plea and convinced me that \u201cI did that when I was younger\u201d is a phrase we all could use more of in this new year.