A few years ago we shared “A Simple New Year Wish” that we heard from a developmentally challenged Chassid in a Monsey eatery before Rosh Hashanah that year.
One of the beautiful things about that wish/blessing is how despite his personal challenges and limitations, that Chassid proudly considered and declared himself to be “Bnon Shel Kedoshim” (descendant of the holy righteous) and therefore able to confer blessings on others.
Indeed, we all ought to consider ourselves Bnos Shel Kedoshim! Every Jew, each of us, no matter our spiritual station, level of observance or knowledge, who we are or what we do, ought to recognize that each and every one of us is a descendant of Jewish history, we are the inheritors and carriers of a glorious Jewish heritage, we are continuing connecting links in a long chain of the Jewish people dating all the way back to Sinai, and our patriarchs and matriarchs.
This recalls another Rosh Hashanah story with the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Mr. George Rohr (a benefactor of Shabbos House and Chabad on Campus around the globe):
Once, before Yom Kippur, when receiving Lekach (honey cake) from the Rebbe, it occurred to Mr. Rohr that he should give something to the Rebbe and not merely take. With that thought in mind, he told the Rebbe that for Rosh HaShanah, he had organized a minyan at his Manhattan synagogue for over 130 Jews who had no Jewish background. This is something that the Rebbe would certainly appreciate.
The Rebbe replied, “With no Jewish background?”
Not understanding what was wrong, Mr. Rohr clarified again, “Yes, with no Jewish background.”
“Go back and tell them,” the Rebbe said, “that they do have a Jewish background! They have are the sons of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, the daughters of Sarah, Rivka, Rachel and Leah!”