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Judaism -->
ROSH HASHANAH -- Return to Main Page |
The Jewish High Holy
Days are observed during the 10 day period
between the first day (Rosh
Hashanah) and the 10th day (Yom Kippur)
of Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish
calendar. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
are the most important of all Jewish Holidays
and the only holidays that are purely
religious, as they are not related to
any historical or natural event.
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated the first and
second days of Tishri. It is a time of family gatherings, special
meals and sweet tasting foods.
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn day of the
Jewish year and is observed on the tenth day of Tishri. It is a day
of fasting, reflection and prayers. |
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| 1) Anyone who hears the sounding of
the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah from a man of true piety can be assured
that he will not be afraid of thunder the whole year (5:3).
2) The blasts of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah
revitalize the soul and intelligence of every Jew. Each one receives
a new soul and a new level of understanding, each according to his
level. This new soul and vision are drawn from the inner countenance
of God (35:6).
3) The blasts of the
Shofar sweeten the
severity of God's judgment (42).
4) The purpose of sounding the Shofar is to
arouse men from their sleep and prevent them whiling away their days
in slumber. When people are aroused from their sleep, the power of
speech bursts forth with tremendous strength. This in turn leads to
trust, and those who were barren give birth. Then men are brought to
the true fear of Heaven and rele ased from sexual lust and the
futility of superficial attractions and the `charm that deceives'
(cf. Proverbs 31:30). Instead they attain `fullness of days' in
holiness: they learn to lengthen every day of the rest of their
lives by adding ever greater holiness and purity. This brings them
true spiritual riches and the ability to reach the very he ights of
contemplation and perception of God. All of this is possible through
hearing the blasts of the Shofar from the Tzaddikim, who understand
how to accomplish these tikkunim (60:9).
5) It is customary to go to the Tzaddik to
celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah is first and foremost the Day
of Judgment. But no matter how great the severity of the judgment
and no matter where in the world it threatens, everything is
sweetened when Jews gather around the Tzaddik on Rosh Hashanah. With
so many Jewish souls gathered together and merged in abundant love,
a wonderful joy and delight come into the world (61:7).
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6) To explain more about the
importance of celebrating Rosh Hashanah with
the Tzaddikim, you must understand that the
sweetening of harsh judgements comes about
when thought is purified and sanctified. This
can only be achieved through being attached
to the Tzaddik. Rosh Hashanah is the source
of the harsh judgements of the entire year.
The way to sweeten them is by purifying our
thoughts. It is in order to attain sanctity
in thought that we journey to the Tzaddikim
(211).
7) God gave Rosh Hashanah
out of great kindness (Likutey Moharan II,
1:14).
8) Who is able to celebrate
Rosh Hashanah? He who is worthy of binding
himself to the roots of the souls of Israel
(Ibid.).
9) The effect of Rosh Hashanah
is to strengthen faith. There are great gatherings
of Jewish communities everywhere. Especially
significant are the gatherings of Jews around
the true Tzaddikim. Through these gatherings,
all the different facets of faith expressed
in all the different souls are joined together
in a common whole. They are refined, un ified
and elevated. The sparks of new intuitions
and perceptions flash forth. New levels of
understanding begin to develop. The process
continues during the Ten Days of Repentance,
when we work on ourselves and strive to return
to God. The sparks of intuition and perception
are embodied in the mitzvah of tefilin, which
are the `seal of holiness' a nd an aspect
of tikkun habrit (see Tefillin). Yom Kippur
is the climax of the process. The `seal of
holiness' is perfected, and the flashes of
intuition and perception reach their fullest
development. Following this, on Succot the
illumination which must be drawn into the
world is that of Joy. Through joy we can elevate
all the food we eat to prev ent it from disturbing
our dreams and causing impure experiences
at night. On Shemini Atzeret, the Eighth Day
of Solemn Assembly, the spiritual work is
to bring integrity to the faculty of judgment.
If the judges are not honest it can cause
unclean occurrences at night. All the tikkunim
which have been mentioned here are also brought
about whenev er the followers of a spiritual
leader gather at his side. Rosh Hashanah is
the main time for such gatherings because
the source of the entire process of tikkun
is to be found then. In fact the very details
of the Rosh Hashanah ritual, and in particular
the different notes blown on the Shofar, all
have the power to bring about these tikkunim.
Thus the first note we blow, Tekiah, has the
effect of strengthening faith. The second,
Teruah, causes new intuitions and perceptions
to flash forth. And through the third note,
Shevarim, we are protected from having distrubed
dreams and being corrupt in our judgements.
This preserves us from impure experiences
at night (5:15).
10)
On Rosh Hashanah you must force yourself to
put all your power and strength into your
prayers, and you must bind them to the true
Tzaddik. The Tzaddik is the real `strong man':
through his spiritual powers he is able to
offer his prayer in such a way that the prayer
itself is on the level of `judgment.'
And
this is precisely the form of prayer that
is necessary on Rosh Hashanah. Through this
it becomes possible to extricate from the
forces of the Other Side all the holy lifeforce
which they have snatched from the Jewish people
and swallowed: all the prayers, the acts of
kindness and the wisdom of the Jews... The
forces of the Other Side are compelled to
vomit them out from their very innards. This
is brough t about through the strength of
the prayers of this '>> 'strong man,'
the Tzaddik. Then the glory of God is revealed
in its fullness through the converts who attach
themselves to the faith of Israel. Prophecy
and true faith enter the world and false ideologies
are destroyed. This is a foretaste of the
wonderful renewal of the world which is destin
ed to come about in the future. In the new
order, the force of nature will be nothing.
The world will be governed through the providence
of God alone, with miracles and wonders. Then
we will be worthy of hearing the sound of
the song and the melody which will break forth
in time to come. This will be the chief delight
of the World to Come (8:11).
11)
During the Days of Awe it is a good thing
when you can weep profusely like a child.
Throw aside all your sophistication. Just
cry before God, cry for the diseases of the
heart, for the pains and sores you feel in
your soul. Cry like a child before his father.
Then you will be worthy of a beautiful etrog.
The more profusely you weep the more be autiful
the etrog you will have for Succot. (Rabbi
Nachman's Wisdom 87).
12)
On Rosh Hashanah you must be wise. This means
that you should be careful to think only good
thoughts. Then God will be good to us and
give us a good year. On Rosh Hashanah you
must be joyous... and on Rosh Hashanah you
must weep (Ibid. 21).
13)
On the first day of Rosh Hashanah people should
be very careful to speak as little as possible.
The greater the person the more careful he
must be (Ibid.).
14)
The day before Rosh Hashanah is a good time
to present a redemption (Ibid. 214). |
Blessings
for September 26, 2003
1)
Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the
universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments
and has commanded us to light the candle of
Shabbat and of the Day of Remembrance.
Ba-ruch A-tah
Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam Asher
Ki-deshanu Be-mitzvo-tav Ve-tzvi-vanu Le-hadlik
Ner Shel Shabbat veShel Yom Hazikaron.
2) Blessed
are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe,
who has granted us life, sustained us, and
enabled us to reach this occasion.
Ba-ruch A-tah
Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam She-heche-ya-nu
Ve-ki-yi-ma-nu Ve-higi-a-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh
Blessings for
September 27, 2003
Note:
Candles must be kindled only after the end
of Shabbat, the candles should be lit from
a pre-existing flame, (such as from a pilot
flame or a flame prepared on September 6 before
the onset of the holiday), as on the holiday
one is not allowed to create a new flame.
1) Blessed
are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe,
who has sanctified us with His commandments
and has commanded us to light the candle of
the Day of Remembrance.
Ba-ruch A-tah
Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam Asher
Ki-deshanu Be-mitzvo-tav Ve-tzvi-vanu Le-hadlik
Ner Shel Yom Hazikaron.
2) Blessed
are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe,
who has granted us life, sustained us, and
enabled us to reach this occasion.
Ba-ruch A-tah
Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam She-heche-ya-nu
Ve-ki-yi-ma-nu Ve-higi-a-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh. |
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