It's all but final. In a bipartisan effort, the Congress will soon enact a gargantuan 700 billion dollar bailout aimed at securing the failing banking industry and bolstering the depressed economy. Almost all agree that to allow the banking industry to fail would spell chaos for all, leaving the government with no option but to implement this historic bailout.
What is causing the financial markets to fail? I just read an article in Newsweek that suggests that "the chief cause of the credit market meltdown is not folly, or reckless lending." Rather, "in the past five years Wall Street firms created huge volumes of new kinds of complex securities, such as subprime bonds... [which] lacked long trading history or deep markets." In reporting the value of their assets, these firms had to estimate the value of these new securities. Once many of these debts went sour, confidence in these types of securities plummeted, forcing these firms to reassess their values, thus drastically reducing their firm's reported assets, which in turn leads to bankruptcy, etc.
(The article is filled with technical terms. I hope I properly deciphered its logic...)
What is the personal lesson we can take from this crisis and the resulting bailout, as we prepare ourselves for the approach of the new year, 5769?
Here's one lesson I've taken:
During the past year(s) I have made foolish decisions—in all areas of my life, both material and spiritual. Largely, these mistakes stem from faulty "evaluations." I considered work more important than family, surfing the web more important than prayer, splurging more important than charity, ego more important than my wife's feelings, etc.
And next week as I stand in the synagogue on Rosh Hashanah, standing with my soul bared in judgment before G‑d, the thought will occur to me. "My G‑d, so many of the 'assets' I've accumulated over the past year are virtually worthless." A modicum of thought will reveal that I am teetering on the brink of insolvency.
But this upcoming week we will be ushering in a new year. A new start. I'll approach G‑d and ask for a monumental bailout. Not because I am deserving, but because otherwise the whole "spiritual economy" is doomed. Without a solvent humanity, His master plan is for naught. Rosh Hashanah is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve. G‑d created us to be His partner in implementing His vision of a world of good. He will bail us out because He, as it were, actually needs us for this vision to be realized.
I am confident that G‑d will hear my prayers. He will bail me out, together with all others who are in need of assistance. He will provide each and every one of His children with a year of tranquility, happiness, prosperity and meaning.
And I eagerly await the ultimate and most historic bailout—the coming of Moshiach. May this year be the long-awaited "bailout year."
