Hello again, with another message concerning the month of Elul, in an attempt to inspire you to prepare for the Yamim Haonoraim, the days of awe. If you find these messages too imposing, please do not read them, and just pass them on to someone you love. But at any rate, do not destroy or delete them, because every word is holy.
The Gemora relates a conversation between the angels and Hashem, concerning why the Bnay Yisroel do not recite Halel on Rosh Hashanah? Hashem answers, ‘The books of the living and the dead are opened before me and you want them to sing Halel?” What were the angels thinking when they asked this question? Didn’t they know that this is a day of judgment? Perhaps the reason is that Rosh Hashanah is included among the holidays in the Torah. In Parshas Emor we read, “These are the holidays, which should be regarded as holy convocations”, and then goes on to enumerate all of the holidays, including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Since Hashem answered that this is a very serious day of judgment, we have to understand why Hashem included these serious days among what we consider happy holy days.
To reconcile this, we have to first find the reason for Rosh Hashanah. Each of the three festivals, Pesach, Shavuos and Succos are celebrated to commemorate an important event that occurred to the Bnay Yisroel. But Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are mentioned in the Torah as days to be celebrated, how they should be celebrated, by the Shofar, by fasting etc. but no reason is given for these days to be special. One could point to the Mishna in Mesechet Rosh Hashanah, which teaches that there are four new years, one of them being the first of Tishrei, at which time all the inhabitants of the earth are brought before the heavenly court to be judged. But this is like finding a question to a good answer. After the Torah commanded us to observe this day with the sounding of the Shofar, the Chachamim realized that this reminds us that this a judgment day.
Perhaps we can find some reason from some of the highlights we practice on Rosh Hashanah. It is customary for the Chazzan who will lead the morning Shachris services, to begin pronouncing the word Hamelech, from his seat, rather than before the Amud, the cantorial lectern. He also precedes the announcement with a haunting melody, and proclaims Hamelech with as strong a voice as he can muster. We change the words in the Beracha of the Shemoneh Esray, from Ha’Ail Hakadosh, to Hamelech Hakadosh. His sets the tone for the solemnity of the day, as we anoint Hashem as our king, as well as the king of the world. By emphasizing the word Hamelech, the king, as we just described, the congregants are reminded that this is no ordinary holiday, but is a day when Hashem moves from His seat of mercy to His seat of judgment. While for some people, it is sufficient to be inspired by one or two symbols, wearing a Kittel, the white gown, using a Machzor rather than a Siddur, others need more symbols in order to d evelop the proper frame of mind, and to pray more fervently. The beginning of the Davening on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, is no different from any Shabbos, until after Nishmas. But starting with Shachris, we are going to add more supplications and specific prayers describing the holiness of this day. By announcing Hamelech in an unusual voice, and from his seat, the Chazan sets this tone of solemnity.
However, this is only meant to inspire us, to feel a fear that we are facing Hashem and pleading for ourselves and our loved ones. For Hashem, however, it is a joyous time, for there is nothing Hashem wants more than to forgive those who sinned and allow them to start the new year with a clean slate. The angels took their clue from Hashem, who was looking forward to this day when He can forgive His children, and they thought this is going to be a holiday, resembling the other three pilgrimages. When they didn’t hear the Bnay Yisroel recite Halel, they were justifiably surprised. Hashem had to remind them, that His mood is determined by the Bnay Yisroel, and since they are so inspired by all that is taking place in the Shul, and determined to regard this day as a day of awe and repentance, He doesn’t expect them to sing His praises through the recitation of Halel.
A similar conversation between Hashem and the angels is described in the Talmud. The angels asked Hashem when they should arrange the heavenly court, and Hashem tells them to wait until the Bnay Yisroel will announce Rosh Chodesh Tishrei, and that will usher in the days of judgment. We do not announce when Rosh Chodesh Tishrei will be, as we do for all the other months, but that is because we hope to deter the Satan from preparing his files against us. However, once Hashem gave the Torah to the Bnay Yisroel, they are the ones who determine when to observe the various holy days prescribed in the Torah.
Realizing the power vested in us, to determine Hashem’s mood and the significance of the days, we should take advantage of these days prior to Rosh Hashanah and prepare ourselves as well as possible, to receive forgiveness from Hashem, as well as His blessings for a healthy and prosperous new year. These preparations might include, among others, increasing our Tzedaka donations, dedicating more time to studying Torah or reviewing the Tefillos we will be reciting, and studying books on the subject of Mussar. These books teach us how to improve our Midos, our character, and modify our behavior, both between man and Hashem and also between man and man.
