As a young rabbi, I used to try to solve the problems of the world – i.e. reset – on Rosh Hashanah. As I grew older, I narrowed my focus. Now I try to “reset” myself.

For my reset, I look to the book of Micah (6:8): “What does God ask of you: to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” What this tells me to work on, this year and every year, is to try to do the right thing, to live a life of chesed (kindness), to have love and compassion for all human beings — starting with my family and moving to my community and ultimately to the world.

And this is not only what God asks of us; it’s what God models for us. During the High Holy Days, we speak of God as the King of Justice. The Torah states: “God’s actions are perfect; all of His ways are just; He is a faithful God with no evil; righteous and straight He is.” It is not always easy to see the divine role in this way, but, even at a graveside, where this verse is traditionally read — especially at a graveside — we recite that verse in affirmation of God’s justice.

Throughout the year, our prayers describe God as “good, forgiving and full of chesed to all who call upon Him.” He forgives us, like a father, because He loves us. The implication is that we should forgive others’ mistakes because we love them, too.

Finally, God is a paradigm of humility: “Rabbi Yochanan said: ‘Wherever you find God’s greatness, there you will find his humility.’ It is written in the Torah as follows: ‘For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty and awe inspiring God’… and immediately afterwards it is written: ‘He upholds the cause of the orphan and widow and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.’” The greatest being in the universe humbles Himself to be concerned with the lonely, the needy, and the unfortunate. Can we emulate this in our lives?

It’s told of my revered teacher, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, that one Erev Yom Kippur, he demonstrated these three qualities. Visiting his wife’s graveside in Boston, he was approached by two men who didn’t know the prayers to say at their relatives’ graves. They had spotted the Rav — without knowing who he was — and, since he looked like a rabbi, asked if he would accompany them to their parents’ graves to recite a memorial prayer. The Rav said, “Of course.” After the prayer was finished, the men asked him if he would accompany them to another relative’s grave and pray there. The Rav agreed. He recited the E-l Moleh, wished the strangers a good Yom Tov, and drove home.

The cemetery caretaker informed the men of the identity of the rabbi who rendered such a kindness to them. They were stunned and overwhelmed by his graciousness, that as he prepared for the holiest day of the year, he humbly performed an act of love for fellow human beings.

Living a life of justice, chesed, and humility is fulfilling God’s words and emulating His ways. May we live our lives that way and may God bless us with a shanah tovah!

Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, now emeritus, has been the rabbi of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun since 1958, and principal emeritus of the Ramaz School since 1966. He is the Joseph H. Lookstein Professor of Homiletics at Yeshiva University, where he has been teaching since 1979. He also serves as vice president of the Beth Din of America.

This essay is part UJA’s High Holiday publication Hitting Reset: A Fresh Start for 5778.