monotheism
13-09-04, 06:08 PM
Torah's New Year for All Mankind
Rosh Hashanah, this coming Thursday and Friday September 16 & 17, is the Torah's New Year for all mankind, the Day of Judgment for all the world's inhabitants. If we are worthy, we are inscribed in the Book of Life. Ten days later, on Yom Kippur, the Book is sealed. Through repentance, prayer, and charity, we can sweeten the decree, and merit G-d's blessings for health and prosperity in the coming year.
Rosh Hashanah is celebrated on 1 Tishrei, the sixth day of the world's creation and not 25 Elul, the first day of the world's creation. The explanation for this is:
1) Man, being the highest and most perfect creature in the universe, is the purpose of the world's creation. Thus, Rosh Hashanah is the day on which G-d completed the world's creation by creating Adam, the first man.
2) On the sixth day, Adam proclaimed G-d as King of the Universe—his very first act. He called upon all creatures: "Come, let us prostrate and kneel before G-d, our Maker."
The first day, when the process of creating the many and great creatures began, represents G-d's power to create multiplicity. The sixth day, when Adam declared G-d's Kingship, represents the unity of all creatures in fulfilling His Will. The world is only complete once it has been brought to the state where all its details are permeated with the recognition of G-d's kingship. This will be achieved to the fullest extent in the Messianic era. Each Rosh Hashanah, we too proclaim the Kingship of G-d, and reaffirm our commitment to serve Him well.
Acceptance of Divine Authority Before Divine Commands
The emphasis of the day of Rosh Hashanah is acceptance of G-d's kingship, for this is the first stage in the process of repentance. This is apparent in the Ten Commandments, which start with "I am the L-rd, your G-d, and you shall have no other gods before Me." Why was this said? This can be compared to a king who entered a country. His servants told him: "make decrees upon them." He responded to them: "Only when they accept upon themselves my sovereignty can I make a decree upon them. For if they will not accept my sovereignty, they will not accept my decrees either."
Just as on the original Rosh Hashanah, Adam brought the entire world to recognise G-d's sovereignty, so each Rosh Hashanah we renew our relationship with Him by accepting His sovereignty anew.
Happy New Year to all! May we all be judged favourably and blessed physically and spiritually in the coming year.
Rosh Hashanah, this coming Thursday and Friday September 16 & 17, is the Torah's New Year for all mankind, the Day of Judgment for all the world's inhabitants. If we are worthy, we are inscribed in the Book of Life. Ten days later, on Yom Kippur, the Book is sealed. Through repentance, prayer, and charity, we can sweeten the decree, and merit G-d's blessings for health and prosperity in the coming year.
Rosh Hashanah is celebrated on 1 Tishrei, the sixth day of the world's creation and not 25 Elul, the first day of the world's creation. The explanation for this is:
1) Man, being the highest and most perfect creature in the universe, is the purpose of the world's creation. Thus, Rosh Hashanah is the day on which G-d completed the world's creation by creating Adam, the first man.
2) On the sixth day, Adam proclaimed G-d as King of the Universe—his very first act. He called upon all creatures: "Come, let us prostrate and kneel before G-d, our Maker."
The first day, when the process of creating the many and great creatures began, represents G-d's power to create multiplicity. The sixth day, when Adam declared G-d's Kingship, represents the unity of all creatures in fulfilling His Will. The world is only complete once it has been brought to the state where all its details are permeated with the recognition of G-d's kingship. This will be achieved to the fullest extent in the Messianic era. Each Rosh Hashanah, we too proclaim the Kingship of G-d, and reaffirm our commitment to serve Him well.
Acceptance of Divine Authority Before Divine Commands
The emphasis of the day of Rosh Hashanah is acceptance of G-d's kingship, for this is the first stage in the process of repentance. This is apparent in the Ten Commandments, which start with "I am the L-rd, your G-d, and you shall have no other gods before Me." Why was this said? This can be compared to a king who entered a country. His servants told him: "make decrees upon them." He responded to them: "Only when they accept upon themselves my sovereignty can I make a decree upon them. For if they will not accept my sovereignty, they will not accept my decrees either."
Just as on the original Rosh Hashanah, Adam brought the entire world to recognise G-d's sovereignty, so each Rosh Hashanah we renew our relationship with Him by accepting His sovereignty anew.
Happy New Year to all! May we all be judged favourably and blessed physically and spiritually in the coming year.