Divrei HaRav
 

Rosh HaShana / ראש השנה

Rosh HaShana / ראש השנה

"Hashem Ori Viyishi" - Hashem is my light and my salvation. The Medrash explains that "my light" is Rosh Hashanah, and "my salvation" is Yom Kippur. R' Yisroel Salanter asks, "if Yom Kippur is forgiveness of sins, and Rosh Hashanah is the day of Judgment, shouldn't Yom Kippur come first?" He answers. Rosh Hashanah is the judgement of all our physical existence and we connect more with these problems than the spiritual parts of our life. Since Yom Kippur is our atonement for the spiritual we would not be up to it if not for the fact that we first are fired up for the Rosh Hashanah encounter. This then is the kindness of Hashem; He gives us light on Rosh Hashanah and therefore can offer salvation on Yom Kippur. (Kihilos Yitzchok)

In all our davening we recite the holy words the text prepared by the Anshei Kinesses Hagedola. Now, we strive to understand the sublime and secret inner meanings of each passage. However, we fall far short. We should not despair. We could liken ourselves to the horse that turns the wheel that creates the power to grind the wheat. The horse itself knows nothing of the real inner workings of the wheel and only is aware of the path upon which it walks. The rest follows as a result of his action. So too, our job is just to walk the path of the simple "kavana" of davening. All the rest of the heavenly and elevated implications of the prayer occur automatically. (Kihilos Yitzchok)

It is written in the Maasei Rav of the Vilna Gaon that one should not cry on Rosh Hashanah for it is not the theme of the day to cry. On the other hand, it is written from the Ari 'z'l that he commended those who cry on Rosh Hashanah. R' Yisroel Salanter reconciled these two opinions. The Gemora in Rosh Hashanah expresses the theme of Rosh Hashanah as bending ones personality and as being a time to humble oneself. If so, then one whose tears flow freely for every little calamity should, on the contrary, not cry on Rosh Hashanah. One, however, who by nature refuses to cry should bend himself and cry on Rosh Hashanah. (Kihilos Yitzchok)

To understand the power of the Shofar we need only to read the Gemora in Rosh Hashanah 26. The Gemora tells us of the prohibition of using gold in the service in the Bais Hamikdosh for it reminds Hashem of the golden calf. Likewise, the Gemora points out that the horn of a calf should not be used, for it is also a reminder of the golden calf. The Gemora, however, asks that, the prohibition only applies to the Kodesh Kodeshim. To this the answer is that since the Shofar is a direct reminder to Hashem it is equal to the Kohain Gadol entering the Kodesh Kodeshim.

“Yaakov Chevel Nachloso” – The Bnei Yisroel have a unique distinction of being referred to as a rope. A rope is made up of many thin threads, each unable to support any heavy weight, braided together in a tight bond to form a rope that can hold many times its size-even the weight of a human. So too are the Jewish people. At the slightest fraying of the tight knit that unites the Jewish people, they flounder and are unable to operate. Of the miracles of the Bais HaMikdosh, one was the fact that they stood together squashed and unable to move and yet there was enough room for each and every one to bow. Why were they not granted the miracle to be able to stand without this discomfort? The answer is that this indicated the tight closeness necessary for the Jewish people to be one unified body, i.e. rope - only then were they allowed the comfort of the miracle. (M’Shulchan Gevoah)

For the people are the portion of HaShem – We say in davening, “Ma tov chelkenu uma naim goralainu uma yafa yerushaseinu” How good is our portion, how pleasant is our lot, how beautiful is our inheritance. The Meshech Chochma describes our heritage. A portion is something we deserve, while a lot is by chance. Yitzchok being the true son of Avrohom and Sorah deserved the portion over Yishmoel. Yaakov was actually equal to Esav, both being born from righteous parents. We are thankful for what is almost a lottery pick - Yaakov was chosen. But after that, the sons of Yaakov were all pure. Hence, how beautiful our inheritance.

 

 

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