Rosh Hashana
Dedicated Leilui Nishmat my two grandfathers on both their 50th yartzheits, Jacob Rahmey, Yaakov ben Malka A’h and Moishe Cohen, Moshe ben Sheila A’h By Jack Edmund Rahmey and Family _________________________________________________________________ Rosh Hashana Our Father, Our King
Rosh Hashanah is one of the most awe-inspiring days of the year. On the first Rosh Hashanah, life was given to humanity. Yet on that very same day, it was also taken away. Each year on Rosh Hashanah, life itself, the most precious gift — though granted to many — will inevitably be taken from some. The books of life, righteousness, health, and sustenance are opened and waiting for names to be written within.
When we pray on Rosh Hashanah and the ten days of repentance, we recite “Avinu Malkenu,” which means, “Our Father, Our King.” Hashem sits on the Throne of Judgement during these ten days as an all-knowing, mighty King. However, we beseech Him and call Him our Father, to beg Him to sit on the Throne of Mercy and grant us forgiveness and life for the year to come.
The Rambam says the shofar leads to a great spiritual awakening. There is a story about a boy who went off the derech. He took money from his parents and moved out of their house. Two years later, on Rosh Hashanah, he was walking around the city, smoking and drinking with his friends. A man with a kippah approached the group and asked the boy if he would like to hear the shofar and the beracha. The boy agreed so that he could make fun of the man with his friends. But when the boy listened to the crying, inspiring sound of the shofar, he was suddenly overwhelmed with the desire to return home to his parents.
He walked a long way from Manhattan over the bridge to Brooklyn to tell them he wanted to come back home. As he walked into the house, he saw his entire family waiting to eat the Rosh Hashanah meal with a plate set for him at the table. The boy and his parents broke down in tears. His mother and father were waiting for him to come home all this time with open arms.
All year, or even all our lives, we may have transgressed and turned away from Hashem. All we have to do is tell Hashem, our Father in Heaven, one thing: “I want to come home,” and He will take us back with open arms and forgive us. But we are responsible for taking that first step! On Rosh Hashanah, we must recognize Hashem as our Melech HaMelachim—King of Kings. Even though we keep doing the same sins repeatedly, even if it has been a thousand times, Hashem is still our Av, our Father in Heaven, waiting for us to return.
Empty-Handed
We say in Selichot, “Like paupers and poor men, we bang on Your door.” Rav Naftali Trop once said that there is a huge misconception about Rosh Hashanah that this line in Selichot clarifies. Many of us feel that when we stand in front of Hashem on Rosh Hashanah, we have a lot in our pockets. Baruch Hashem, we have health, a job, a family, and life. So, all Hashem would need to do this year is to stay uninvolved and let us keep what we already have.
Yet, according to Selichot, we are poor men with absolutely nothing. Because when Rosh Hashanah comes, we are not renewing a lease; we are starting a new one. We should not be asking as successful people to continue our good lives, but rather as paupers, as empty-handed people, asking Hashem with humility to find us a job, to grant us a family, and to provide us with a good life.
11 Reasons Why We Blow the Shofar
1. Just as trumpets are sounded at a coronation, the shofar crowns G‑d as King. 2. The shofar is like an alarm clock that wakes a sleeping soul on Rosh Hashanah. 3. Just as it was blown at Har Sinai, the shofar reminds us to rededicate ourselves to Torah. 4. The sound of the shofar is like the voice of the neviim—prophets who told us to correct our ways. 5. The shofar’s cry reminds us of the screams and tears shed for the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash. 6. The shofar is a ram’s horn, reminding us of Akedat Yitzchak and our own capacity for self-sacrifice. 7. It fills us with awe and humility as we contemplate how Hashem fills all space and time. 8. We blow the shofar on Rosh Hashanah to remind us to examine our deeds and see how we can improve them. 9. Like the shofar when Mashiach comes, the sound of the blast will remind us of G-d’s salvation in our everyday lives. 10. The shofar during Mashiach will be at a time of universal understanding that Hashem is King, and the shofar on Rosh Hashanah reminds us of this unity. 11. The call of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah reminds us of the cries of the soul yearning to return to Hashem.
Jump at the Opportunity
Right before the outbreak of World War Two, the United Kingdom arranged the Kinder Transport to save Eastern European Jewish children from the hands of the Nazis. Nearly ten thousand children were saved and relocated into British foster homes and orphanages. One of these children was Beryl Gartner.
Beryl lived in an orphanage with other Jewish refugees. One day his teacher announced that King George VI would be visiting their town. The next morning all the children got up early and put on their finest clothes and scrubbed their faces clean. They eagerly waited for the royal coach to appear. The king, queen and the two princesses waved majestically out to the cheering crowd. Everyone strained against the barricades to catch a glimpse of the royalty.
Eleven-year-old Beryl pushed his way through the barricades and jumped over the barriers. He ran as fast as he could and jumped onto royal carriage, banging on the windows. The carriage halted to a stop, and immediately the royal guards removed him. Suddenly, the carriage door swung open, and Beryl found himself face to face with king.
“I see you want to say hello,” smiled the king. Beryl looked deep into the eyes of the king, and tried to speak but he was overcome with tears. “Don’t cry now,” said the king, “we are not going to put you in the tower of London.”
“Your Majesty, please forgive me for banging on your car. But please help me. You’re the only one who can help me. Your Majesty I am a Jew from Germany. Through your kindness I was brought here by the Kinder Transport, but my parents are still in Germany. I am so frightened about what happened to them. Sometimes I think I will never see them again.” He burst into tears again.
The king inquired about Beryl’s family’s name and address and had an assistant write them down. “Let’s see what we can do.” He patted Beryl on the head, and Beryl hopped down from the cart.
A few weeks later the Headmaster called him into his office. “You seemed to make quite an impression on the king. In fact, he sent you a gift.” The headmaster opened the door and standing there were Beryl’s mother and father.
The Baal HaTanya says that during the month of Elul the King is not in his castle. Rather, during Elul he comes to visit the villages, streets and farms to visit us. He’s accessible. How often we find ourselves stuck behind the barriers we built for ourselves in our hearts. Jump onto the royal carriage! Ask him for whatever you want. The bodyguards may try to stop you, but the King wants you there. Ask him for whatever you want. Ask him to be reunited with your deepest self. No request is too large for the King.
Something Money Can’t Buy
Kivi Bernhard, a jeweler living in Atlanta, is an international motivational speaker. The author of the internationally acclaimed business book: Leopardology: The Hunt for Profit in a Tough Global Economy, is a frequent popular speaker for large corporate events. He is also an observant Jew.
Some time ago, Microsoft invited him through his agent to present a keynote address at their conference for senior executives from all over the world. Kivi looked at the date. The keynote address was scheduled for Shabbat, and the presentation would require the use of electronic devices, power points, videos, mics, and recordings, so Kivi apologized to his agent and politely declined to attend.
A senior Microsoft executive decided to resolve the issue by offering Bernhard almost double his speaking fee. He explained that the meeting had been set a year and a half in advance and it could not be changed at this point. He also explained that the bulk of the event centered on Bernhard’s theories presented in Leopardology.
Kivi once again apologized and remained adamant that he would not speak on Shabbat.
At some point, the executive at Microsoft was ready to pay him an astronomical fee of six figures. Tempting as it was, Kivi knew that was his test. He explained to Microsoft's Senior Global VP that he was not declining because he wanted more money, but that G-d told the Jewish people to observe Shabbat, and that his Jewish observance was his priority.
They deliberated and called him back to let him know they would reschedule the entire conference to Sunday. He said that would work and that the original price would work too. Indeed, the Microsoft conference opened with a keynote address by Kivi Bernhard.
A few weeks later, the Microsoft VP reached out once again to Kivi about an experience he had while on a private jet with Bill Gates. The executive related to Mr. Gates the unusual experience of having to reschedule an entire conference for Microsoft in order to accommodate “a Jew’s observance of the Sabbath.”
The VP told Kivi that the story made quite an impact on Mr. Gates, who remarked, “There are some things that just cannot be bought with money… I guess the Sabbath is one of them.”
Kivi shared the story and said that it was Bill Gates who allowed him to grasp the value and meaning of his sacrifice. Bill Gates gave him an understanding of wealth, and that having Shabbat is an example of true wealth, as it is priceless.
On Shabbat Rosh Hashanah, we don’t blow the shofar, not because the blowing of the shofar is problematic, but in case someone will be tempted to desecrate Shabbat and carry the shofar to shul. It seems inconceivable that the Sages would deprive us of the benefits afforded by one of the greatest mitzvot we have—simply on account of a few people who might carry instead of storing the shofar in shul. Therefore, we must conclude that the Sages understood that on Shabbat it is actually unnecessary to blow the shofar, because what we normally accomplish through sounding the shofar is accomplished when we don’t blow it Shabbat.
As we discussed earlier, the shofar represents G-d’s eternal place as King of Kings. We rededicate ourselves to Torah and look inward to improve our deeds to solidify Hashem’s glory. When we don't blow the shofar, it shows we accept G-d as King, we adore and safeguard Shabbat, and we solidly accept the words of the Torah and the authority of our rabbis. Therefore, by not blowing the shofar on Shabbat, we can bring about even greater Kabbalat Ol Malchut Shamayim—accepting the kingship of Heaven.
May we all remember to take advantage of the golden opportunity we have during Rosh Hashanah, to pray to Hashem, to do teshuvah, and to ask for anything, even if it seems impossible. May we witness the incredible miracles of Hashem answering our prayers for the good. May we help others and help ourselves by giving tzedakah, doing chessed, and righting our wrongs. May we keep Shabbat sacred!! And of course, may we hear the sound of the shofar announcing Mashiach’s arrival soon! Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and fulfilling year of accomplishments, mitzvot, and maasim tovim! Amen!
Shabbat Shalom! Shana Tova!
Rabbi Amram Sananes, written by Jack Rahmey
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Rachel Bat Devorah
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