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