Rosh HaShannah – The Tree of Life

After the Festival

Rosh Hashanah shiur – Sanctification

“And now, Israel, what doth the L-RD thy G-d require of thee, but to fear the L-RD thy G-d, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the L-RD thy G-d with all thy hear and with all thy soul; to keep for thy good the commandments of the L-RD, and His statutes, which I command thee this day?” – Deuteronomy 10:12-13, JPS 1917 Tanach

If we make an effort to sanctify ourselves from Below (Earth), according to our own efforts, H’Shem will sanctify us from Above (Heaven). Moreover, this also translates into our overall efforts in Olam Hazeh (This World), that will be rewarded in Olam Haba (The World-to-Come). This would include the sanctification of speech.

For myself, the nature, timing, and quality of my words need much refining. As much as I may think that I’m cautious about my speech, as a boundaried individual, I also am able to see where I fall short of appropriate speech. Namely, the many different kinds of lashon hara are a reminder to me, that I need to make an effort to improve in this department. Which serves as a segue to another important point.

Rosh HaShanah should ideally be a serious day of focus on one’s thought, speech, and action, while remaining free from chatter, and idle words, in order to have one’s thoughts absorbed with the meaning of the holiday. However, this task becomes even more challenging at seudah (lunch) after the morning service. I found myself reverting back to the same types of inappropriate speech I have been trying to root out.

Isn’t this the nature of festivities, when there is wine and good food? Yet, regardless, I am still responsible for my own speech and behavior. The only positive result of my realizing that I spoke lashon hara twice during seudah, is that my faults compelled me to begin reading the sefer of Chofetz Chaim on Lashon Hara. And, lo and behold, the book is arranged to study these laws, beginning on Tishrei 1.

So, here I am. Hineni. Like all of us, I am given another chance to improve. May this only be the beginning of renewal for all of K’lal Yisrael. For the sake of our own benefit (Deuteronomy 10:13), may we endeavor to keep on track by following the commandments, especially those wherein we need to improve.

Gemar chatimah tovah – a good final sealing.

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Rosh HaShannah is a time of renewal. Through teshuvah (repentance) we prepare ourselves to face H’Shem: Avinu Malkeinu (Our Father, Our King) on the Day of Judgment for the New Year. Through proper reflection, and rooting out our sins well in advance of that day, we hope to begin the new year with the resolve to start anew.

Rosh HaShannah is considered to be a day of judgment for the new year. We would like to be judged favorably, so we make an accounting of the soul (heshbnon hanefesh), in order that our conscience will permit ourselves to stand before the King. According to the Zohar, “’You stand this day all of you before the L-RD your G-d’” (Deuteronomy 30:9) refers to Rosh HaShannah, when we stand before H’Shem in judgment for the New Year.

When we examine our conscience, we may be brought to a place of moral compunction as a result of guilt and remorse. During the Ten Days of Repentance, otherwise known as the Days of Awe, we continue to search our souls for the flaws that need to be brought into the light . During that time, any judgments against us for the year may be diminished through our efforts at “teshuvah (repentance), tefillah (prayer), and tsedokah (charity),” that “avert the severity of the decree,” for the decrees are not sealed until Yom Kippur.

The Pardon

Elul Preparation: Day 27 – The Pardon

In regard to the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, we should keep in mind, that when a sin is committed we may appeal to G-d’s mercy. When we receive G-d’s forgiveness, we are pardoned for our transgression. This is also encapsulated in the thirteen attributes, “forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:7).

The question may be asked whether or not thorough G-d’s mercy, His forgiveness also includes atonement. The main requirement for atonement is repentance, or in Hebrew, teshuvah, a return to G-d. This is the start of reconciliation between G-d and man.

Yet, this is a two-way interaction, that through G-d’s mercy, we are forgiven. However, teshuvah requires a change of heart, and commitment to not only abstain from sin; rather also, to do good. Therefore, we must compel ourselves to undertake an effort to be proactive in endeavors that will benefit the soul. Several undertakings are recommended:

It is written elsewhere that the study of Torah and acts of loving-kindness (gemilut chasadim) atone for sin (Talmud, tractate Berachos). This may be understood as two ingredients in the overall “recipe” for teshuvah. So, that rather than the effects of sin lingering, or being prone to fall back into sin, these two endeavors should guard us against future sin.

Add to this the recital of the thirteen attributes, in an earnest appeal to H’Shem. In acknowledgment that we cannot stand on our own, we must keep these in mind. When we recite these during the High Holiday services, a sense of humility should be fostered in our hearts as we acknowledge our spiritual weakness, and His merciful response to us.

Days of Favor

motzei Shabbos: Havdallah 2 Elul 5783

These days are days of favor and repentance. During the month of Elul, through the 10th of Tishrei, H’Shem bestows His favor upon us, so that our teshuvah will be heard and answered.

Thus, in acknowledgment that His Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, given to Moshe when He passed before him (Exodus 34:6), are exceptionally available to us, during these days, we may seek teshuvah with a sincere heart, in earnest expectation that we will be forgiven our sins.

Elul Preparation: Day 20

“The lion roars, who will not fear?” -Amos 3:8

During the month of Elul, H’Shem elicits awe from His people. The Bnei Yissacher further explains, that this verse specifically relates to this season, because the word for lion in Hebrew, aryeh, is an acronym for Elul, Rosh HaSHannah, Yom Kippur and Hoshanna (Rabbah).

Imagine a lion, the king of the beasts, roaring to awaken all who fear him. Yiras H’Shem, a sense of awe, respect and reverence toward G-d is awakened in us this month, as we approach Yom HaDin (the Day of Judgment) for the New Year.

Let us prepare in earnest this year, by searching our conscience, and strengthening our devotion to H’Shem. Whatever has faltered in our efforts over the past year, may they be revived. And, may we receive new life, springing up within us, as a result of our efforts.

Elul Preparation: Day 4

Tikkun HaNefesh (Renewal of the Soul) Day 4

The first set of tablets were broken. The second set of tablets were received after Moshe was on Sinai from the beginning of the month of Elul until the 10^th of Tishrei. These second tablets represent teshuvah, in the sense that our lives may be broken to a greater or lesser degree by our sinful nature (yetzer hara). If we do not make an attempt to mend the soul, then our connection to H’Shem will continue to suffer. As is written, “your sins have separated between you and G-d” (Isaiah 59:2).

When Moshe ascended to Mount Sinai for forty days, in order to receive the second set of commandments, he entered into yisuv hadaat, a settled state of mind, where He could be receptive to H’Shem’s communication with him. This interior calmness, knowing that we can retreat there in all circumstances, once, we have fostered an awareness of that place of solitude within, and hined our ability to retreat there, in order to reside in our inner sanctum, is all the more necessary. Than in times past, today, when so much adversity, and so many challenges are faced by us, as the Geulah (Redemption) draws near.

The Bnei Issacher explains, that these days of divine favor, are additionally designated as such, because of the creation the world, that began on Elul 25^th, although it’s inception in the will of the Creator, occurred sometime earlier in the month of Elul. (Contrary to the basic assumption that the world was created, beginning on Tishrei 1, the first day of creation was on Elul 25^th. Mankind was created on the sixth day of creation, corresponding to Tishrei 1).

We should anticipate a renewal of the soul, as we draw closer to the days on the Hebrew calendar, when everything was originally tohu vavohu (formless and void). So, to, may our souls return to a state of pristine renewal, as if we are beginning again in our devotion to H’Shem. Even if we have not yet done a complete teshuvah by the end of the month, may it be merited to us anyway.* Amen.

*based on Bnei Yissacher: Elul 4

The Inward Focus

“Look to yourselves,” we would like to say to others, when we see others casting blame upon people, institutions, and society at large. Yet, for the sake of our own benefit, we should not avoid “looking toward ourselves.” The Ten Days of Awe, for all intents and purposes, are a time of increased reflection upon our faults, errors, and sins, with the aim of bringing these into the light, and asking forgiveness. Additionally, on Yom Kippur, our atonement is sought through even more intense prayer, and H’Shem willing, bestowed upon us, so that we can begin the new year with the renewal of our souls, having been cleansed through a sincere teshuvah. Thus, our inward focus on improving ourselves, is rewarded by H’Shem, in acknowledgment of our efforts to change from within; and, having been relieved of our guilty conscience, we can experience the joy of Sukkot.

“Let us search and examine our ways, and turn back to the L-RD.”

– Lamentations 3:40, JPSN

Rosh HaShannah 5783

Stand in Righteousness 5782

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“Ye are standing this day all of you before the L’rd your G’d.

– Deuteronomy 29:9, JPS

Moshe speaks to the generation of B’nei Yisrael (the Children of Israel) that will soon cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land, under the new leadership of Joshua. Moshe reassures the people that despite their transgressions in the wilderness, they are still “standing this day.” The Hebrew word used for stand in this verse is nitzavim, from the shoresh (root word) NZV, meaning to stand upright.

Moshe explains that they are gathered together, standing before H’Shem, “that thou shouldest enter (uvalaso) into the covenant of the L’RD thy G’d (Deuteronomy 29:11, JPS). The shoresh, AVR, meaning to enter, also means to cross over. The use of this word is apropos of B’nei Yisrael’s immanent crossing over the Jordan to Canaan. Figuratively speaking, they are crossing over as wanderers in the wilderness into the Covenant. The proclamation given by Moses in this passage is a renewal of the covenant.

The Zohar relates the phrase, “Ye are standing this day” to Rosh HaShannah. When we stand before H’Shem on Rosh HaShannah, the Day of Judgment, when we are judged for the year, the books are opened, and we hope to be judged favorably, so that we may cross over into a good year. Let us search and try our ways, and return to the L’RD (Lamentations 3:40, JPS), so that we may stand before Him, and be inscribed in the Book of Life.

motzei Rosh HaShannah reflection – 5782

“And the new year begins,” I thought to myself, after finishing the cup of wine drank in conjunction with the brief havdallah service recited at the end of a holiday during the week. Thus concludes the commemoration of Rosh HaShannah, and the beginning of the new year, replete with its ten day focus on teshuvah (repentance) during the ten Days of Awe, culminating with Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Therefore, the theme of judgment continues, throughout these days, as the decrees are not sealed until the neilah service that concludes Yom Kippur. In fact, for the traditionally-minded Jew, the day after Rosh HaShannah is a minor fat day (the fast of Gedaliah) that helps us to counteract any indulgence that occurred during the two days of Rosh HaShannah. This allows us to recalibrate after the celebrations of the New Year, lest we forget the gravity of these days.

For myself, this is the beginning of the three week period that incorporates the shifting of one holiday to another, inclusive of Rosh HaShannah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchas Torah. This is the only time of the year that I can sincerely validate taking time off, for the sake of a “vacation,” that is more like a three week religious retreat. Moreover, considering that the new Torah reading cycle does not begin until Simchas Torah, the end of the year is still upon us; and, the complete beginning of the new year is still not yet begun. We sort of ease into the renewal of the year on different levels, over the next three weeks. This is one reason why, I am compelled to devote myself to these themes of “new beginnings,” during this extended New Year commemoration.