At the time when Tshuvah is most needed and the power of realisign ones actions is growing, we received a Shiur from Rabbi B. Horovitz, in regard to the meaning of Rosh Hashanah. This Shiur has been adapted from the Original.

When we analyze the word Rosh Hashanah, in English it means the New Year, but that would rather actually be Shanah Chadashah, it means rather the head of the year, if we parallel this to the human body, we see that the Head is the controlling, power box of the Body, with the Mind etc, it essentially holds the entirety of the body in the head, just like the head of the year potentially holds the entirety of the year. That's why it says that if one sleeps on Rosh Hashanah, then he will have a mazal that sleeps for the rest of the year, this is not only in regard to physically sleeping but also spiritually, if one cannot be awake for the most important day of the year spiritually then his spirituality will be most harmed, an example to prove this is in respect to a major fire, if one is not awake to get out of a fire, then he will be no more.

The reason this concept is in the time of Rosh Hashanah is because Adam HaRishon, the first man was created on 1st of Tishrei, a man who was spiritually and physically without defect. We relive this event of our history every day of our lives, through the beauty that is re-created in front of us, things like birth, marriage, and nature. When we bless the Chason and Callah, the Bride and Groom, we say may they be like the creation of the Garden Eden of Old. However the question is how can newly married weds, be compared to Adam and Chava, surely there is no comparison?

A person has the power to get a closeness to Hashem, because we all have a part of Hashem in us. This all depends on the decision we make at the potential of time, that being Rosh Hashanah. This is in respect to both Physical and Spiritual, if we come at a spiritual height then we will get a very high quality physical. Through these decisions at the right time we come to the comparison of Gan Eden.

Now in regard to the Shofar, what is the point? It is to wake up spiritually. It refers to one who is asleep to there responsibility where one has to make a decision that will affect him for the entirety of the year. We have to take control of our lives, grab our life back from the Yetzer Horah, the evil inclination. We have to realise that everything that one does think and speaks and has a large major impact on the world at large. Many of us rather think that if we are passengers on earth than our deeds will not do anything, whereas if we are making a whole under our seat causing the boat to sink, then we will all ultimately be destroyed.

Every one of us must forsake our evil, and wake up through the voice of the Shofar, which will ready ourselves for the time of Tshuvah, which will result in the coming of the Moshiach.

We have to know what direction will lead us to the right destination, thus causing us not to crash. Thus the Shofar that is there to arouse us from our slumber, and was at the revelation of the Torah, has the power of showing to us that we have to realise our destiny.

It says in the Rambam that we have ten days to do Tshuvah, to wake up and to realize the right path, This time starts at Rosh Hashanah but the power of Rosh Hashanah is extended for ten days until the most holy time of Yom Kippur.

Thus may we use this time in the future wisely, so we to may merit the amazing grip Tshuvah and decision making has upon our lives, and through this merit the coming of the Moshiach, speedily in our days! Amen!

Alon Meltzer