Rosh Hashanah

Overview

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, falls on the first and second of Tishrei in early autumn. It is the Day of Judgment, when all creation passes before Hashem and He is crowned as King over the world. The day's signature mitzvah is hearing the shofar, whose blasts accompany prayers of Kingship, Remembrance, and the Shofar (Malchuyos, Zichronos, Shofaros). Customs include eating apple dipped in honey and other symbolic foods, and reciting Tashlich. Rosh Hashanah opens the Ten Days of Repentance and marks the renewal of the world and of life itself.

Themes

• Crowning Hashem as King
• The shofar's inner voice
• Teshuvah restores creation
• Choosing life, the Book of Life
• Renewed chiyus of creation
• Mercy prevailing over judgment

Must-read teachings

1. 1Life, kingship, and the shofar on Rosh HashanahThe life that we request on Rosh Hashanah, as it is written, "You made the heavens... and You give life to them all" (Nechemiah 9:6). On Rosh Hashanah we ask for life — the life that flows from Hashem, who not only created all but continuou…תרס"ב
2. 2Rosh Hashanah, inner life, and teshuvahThe "life" that we request on Rosh Hashanah — for on Rosh Hashanah man was created. The Sefas Emes begins by asking about the nature of the "life" we plead for on Rosh Hashanah, noting that this is the day on which Adam, the human being, wa…תרנ"ז
3. 3Teshuvah restores Creation's original unityThe Ten Days of Teshuvah correspond to the Ten Utterances (asarah maamaros) by which the world was created. The Aseres Yemei Teshuvah parallel the ten Divine "sayings" of Creation. And Rosh Hashanah corresponds to "Bereishis," as it is taug…תרמ"ב
4. 4Renewed Chiyus and the Book of LifeIt is brought in the Gemara: the ministering angels asked, "Why do Yisrael not recite Hallel on Rosh Hashanah?" The Holy One answered: "Is it possible? — a King sits upon the throne of judgment, with the books of the living and the dead ope…תרנ"ג
5. 5Choosing life and crowning Hashem on Rosh HashanahConcerning what we request regarding life, for it is written, "And you shall choose life" (Devarim 30:19). The Sefas Emes opens on the theme of the Rosh Hashanah prayers for "life," anchored in the Torah's command to choose life — a choice …תרס"א
6. 6The shofar and the hidden inner voice of YisraelConcerning the blowing of the shofar "ba'keseh" (at the concealed time of the month). The Sefas Emes addresses why the shofar of Rosh Hashanah is blown at the start of the month, when the moon is hidden — "ba'keseh l'yom chageinu." For it i…תרמ"ו
7. 7Chesed prevailing over judgment on Rosh Hashanah"Remember us for life… for Your sake, living God" (zochreinu l'chaim… l'maancha Elokim chaim). The Sefas Emes opens with the Rosh Hashanah tefillah asking Hashem to remember us for life "for Your sake," and will explain why we phrase the re…תרנ"ד
8. 8Bending in humility to arouse mercyIt is taught in the Mishnah that the shofar of Rosh Hashanah is from a wild goat (yael) and is straight. The Sefas Emes opens with the halachic detail that the preferred shofar is a straight horn, a point he will turn into a lesson about ho…תרמ"ג