Oh, how we want this to be a good new year...
How about year of Revealed Wonders?! Wouldn't that be good?
In a teaching of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, back in 1991, he talked about how that year, 5751, would be a year of wonders and miracles. Indeed, many incredible changes on the world stage happened at that time, including Israel's miraculous imperviousness to the attack of Iraqi Scud missiles.
In that teaching, the Rebbe wrote a fascinating commentary related to the Hebrew letters which form the acronym for this year, of 5781. In it he stated that 'Pey Alef' (standing for '81') stand for the words "Pla'ot Ar'enu" - "He will show us wonders." Specifically describing a transformation from place of difficulty and darkness, to a state of Revealed Wonders.
So as we welcome this new year, we are filled with optimism and hope that in this coming year we get to see a transformation from darkness to light, from challenge to achievement, and from Exile to the Torah's promise of ultimate Redemption and goodness for all mankind.
Shana Tova!
Rabbi Yitzchok