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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.
Previous Parshos
Tazria
Metzora
Achrei Mos
Kedoshim
Emor
Behar
Bechukosai
Bamidbar
Shavuos
Naso
Behalosicha
Shilach
Korach
Chukas-Balak
Pinchos
Matos-Masei
Devorim
Voeschonon Ekev
Reah
Shoftim
Ki Seitzei
Ki Savo
Nitzovim
- Vayelech Rosh
HaShana Haazinu-Yom
Kippur Sukkos V'zos
HaBrocha
Breishis
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