The BiG Story

Rosh HaShana, also
known as Yom Teruo (Day
of Blowing the Horn), Yom
Hadin (Judgment Day) and
Yom HaZikaron (Remem-
brance Day), occurs on the
first and second days of the
month of Tishrei. This year,
Rosh HaShana begins on
Shabbat, Friday evening,
Sept. 10.
One of the extraordinary facts
about Rosh HaShana is its timing.
While the holiday is indeed the
beginning of the new year (in
Hebrew, Rosh HaShana literally

.

Three Books

Rosh HaShana, not Yom Kippur (as
is popularly believed), is the day on
which we will be judged.
According to legend, three books
means "head of the year"), we
are opened on Rosh HaShana.
have a tradition that Nisan, when
"One for the completely righteous,
the holiday of Pesach (Passover)
one for the completely wicked, and
occurs, is the first month of the year.
one for the average persons," the
The Torah in Parshat Emor (Leviticus
rabbis said. "The completely right-
23:24), which commands the
eous are immediately inscribed in
observance of Rosh HaShana,
the Book of Life. The completely
refers to it as the seventh month.
wicked are immediately inscribed in
Later, in Parshat Pinchat (Numbers
the Book of Death. The average
29:1-12), the Torah again states
persons are kept in suspension from
that the holiday comes out in the
Rosh HaShana to the Day of Atone-
seventh month.
ment. If they deserve well, they are
So how did Pesach come to be in
inscribed in the Book of Life. If they
the first month? It's because of the
do not deserve well, they are
Exodus from Egypt and the found-
inscribed in the Book of Death."
ing of the Jewish people in Nisan,
Jewish tradition teaches us that
that the month is regarded as the
God made Adam and Eve on Rosh
beginning of our year of religious
HaShana, which was the fifth day
observance. In rabbinic literature it
of creation as recounted in
is not called Rosh HaShana. That
Genesis. This anniversary date for-
title is given to the beginning of
ever became the day of judgment
Tishrei, for as Rabbi Eliezer points
of humanity. The Daat Zekeinim, a
out in the Talmud, on this day the
12th- and 1 3th-century commentary
world is judged by God.
on the Torah, observes: "[On Rosh
Another interesting fact about
HaShana, God says], 'As soon as
when this holiday occurs: Rosh
you have appeared before Me for
HaShana will never begin on a
judgment and have been acquitted,
Tuesday or Thursday night. This is
you may regard yourselves as
so Yom Kippur and Shabbat never
newly made creatures." Rosh
come one after the other, which
HaShana is thus not only a day of
might cause difficulties in preparing
judgment, it is a day of renewal.
for Shabbat. Rosh HaShana also
One of the most prevalent themes of
never starts on a Saturday night
Rosh HaShana is that of God the
because that would mean Hoshana
King. On this day, we formally
Rabba (the last day of Sukkot,
acknowledge God as ruler of the uni-
which always falls on 21 Tishrei,
verse: He is the creator of mankind
would start on a Friday night — not
and of all reality, the ultimate judge
desirable.
and lawgiver, the parent of humanity.

9/10
1999

50 D_eiratiewish News

abundant years."
• Some Jews will not eat nuts on
this holiday because they fear the
tiny, dry particles might get caught
tion, which follows the Torah read-
in the throat, which could cause
ing, the Amid° prayer is structured
coughing and make it difficult to
around three major ideas: kingship,
clearly pronounce prayers.
remembrance and the shofar. These
• Many families like to make a
three parts are each introduced by
special Rosh HaShana challa,
10 verses from Jewish scripture:
shaped like ladders, to symbolize
three from Torah, three from Psalms,
life's journeys, both up and down.
three from the Prophets and the
• Some families literally "throw
tenth from the Torah. Each section
away" their sins by writing them on
ends with a relevant blessing.
small bits of paper and tossing them
into the water. This is called tashlich,
and it was inspired by the Prophet
Micah, who said, "And Thou will cast
• While in most cases Rosh HaShana
all their sins into the depths of the sea"
is filled with the sound of the shofar,
(Micah 7:19). Some also note that,
this year the holiday begins on Shab-
like God, fish never close their eyes.
bat, and thus we will not blow the
Tashlich may be performed at a lake,
shofar that day. Instead, the shofar
river or even a well — wherever there
will be heard on Sunday.
is running water.
• The shofar may be made of the
• It's traditional to stand while
horn of any animal, including the
hearing the shofar.
sheep, goat and antelope. The one
• In addition to the creation of
exception to this is the cow, whose
Adam and Eve, these events
horn cannot be used because it
occurred on Rosh HaShana: Abra-
harkens back to the golden calf.
ham and Jacob were born; the
• The rabbis said that the sound of
Jews stopped their slave labor in
shofar not only would awaken a per-
Egypt as the Ten Plagues were to
son's soul, but evoke God's compas-
begin; God declared that Sarah,
sion. The Midrash states, "Rabbi Josi-
Rachel and Hannah, all of whom
ah said: It is written: 'Happy is the
were unable to become pregnant,
people that know the sound of the
would bear children; and after 12
trumpet (Psalms 89: 1 6). Do not the
years of incarceration, Joseph was
nations of the world know how to
freed from an Egyptian prison.
sound the trumpet? They have numer-
• According to tradition, one of
ous horns, sirens and trumpets, and
the reasons we use a shofar on
yet it is said, 'Happy is the people
Rosh HaShana is because it curves
that know the sound of the trumpet.'
upward, humble in the face of
This means that Israel is the people
God, yet reaching to Him, as well.
that knows how to win over their Cre-
• Feeling like you'll never measure
ator with the blasts of the shofar so
up to the greats on Rosh HaShana?
that He rises from His throne of judg-
Then remember this story, told by
ment to His throne of mercy and is
Rabbi Zusya of Hanipoli: "When I
filled with compassion for them and
am judged by the heavenly court,
turns His quality of judgment into the
they will not ask, 'why weren't you
quality of compassion."
Abraham or Moses?' They will ask,
• On Rosh HaShana, Ashkenaz-
'Why weren't you Zusya?'" Our goal
im offer the greeting: "May you be
should not be to measure ourselves
inscribed (in the Book of Life) for a
against anyone else, but rather to
good year." Sephardim, however,
become the very best persons we can
say, "May you be inscribed for a
be.
good year; may you be worthy of

The major themes of Rosh
HaShana are stated in the religious
service of the day. In the Musaf por-

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