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Guidelines for Inspiration

07/09/2012 02:39:15 PM

Sep7

In order to help you be inspired on these holiest days of the Jewish calendar coming up, here are some more guidelines to help you get the most from your Shule experience this Yom Tov.

 
Prayer on Rosh HaShana
 
G-d's kingship
 
There is a Midrash which tells of how after a new king conquered a country, his new subjects immediately asked him to issue decrees. The king however replied that only after the residents demonstrated their loyalty would he trouble himself with issuing decrees. So, too, on Rosh HaShana G-d asks that we willingly accept Him as our King. Only then is he prepared to act as King and openly exercise His control over the world.
 
The following are some of the main occurrences of the kingship theme:
 
1. HaMelech
 
The theme of G-d's Kingship is first demonstrated during our morning prayers by our emphasis on "HaMelech- The King is sitting on a lofty and exalted throne...
 
As an illustration of how one should feel when saying this prayer, there is the famous story of Rabbi Aharon Karliner, the student of the Mezeritcher Maggid.
 
Once, while leading the congregation in prayer on Rosh HaShana, he came to HaMelech and was so overcome with emotion that he was unable to continue. Later he explained: "When I came to the sentence HaMelech, I suddenly remembered how when Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai came to Vespasian and said to him, "Peace upon you king. Peace upon you king", Vespasian had responded: 'You deserve to die. For if I am truly a king, why have you not come to me until now'?! And now I ask you, if G-d is truly the King, where have I been until now?
 
2. HaMelech HaKadosh
 
During the Amidah prayer there is further emphasis on G-d's kingship. In the middle of the third blessing, which is normally devoted to a brief mention of G-d's holiness, the emphasis changes to an elaboration of G-d's kingship.
 
3. Melech al kol ha’aretz
 
 The Amidah, as mentioned above, is normally made up of three sections. The first and last three blessings, of praise and thanks respectively, are unaltered throughout the year. However, the middle blessings of petitions are only said on weekdays. On Shabbat and festivals they are replaced with another blessing which describes the significance of the day. On Rosh HaShana, this includes the following:
 
"Reign over the entire universe in your glory, be exalted upon all the earth in your splendour, reveal yourself in the majesty of Your glorious might upon all the inhabitants of the world. May every thing that has been made, know that you have made it, every creation understand that you have created it, and let everyone who has breath in his nostrils say that the Lord, G- d of Israel is the King, and His Kingship has dominion over all...
 
4. Avinu Malkeinu
 
This prayer, in its original form, is first attributed to Rabbi Akiva. However, through the centuries various verses were added. The inner meaning of the opening phrase of each stanza, "Our Father, Our King" is beautifully illustrated by the following story:
A man once saw a young child waiting for a ferry. As the boy was standing some distance away from where the ferry would berth, he told him to move to the correct place on the pier so that he would not miss the boat. The boy, however, paid no heed. As the ferry approached the man looked on, sure that the boy would miss it. The boat stopped at its normal spot, but then, instead of sailing away, it turned in the direction of the boy, and upon reaching him, stopped again. The man, who was amazed, went up to the boy seeking an explanation. “Oh it's quite simple”, replied the child. "You see the captain of the boat is my father".
 

On Rosh HaShana, though, we emphasise G-d's sovereignty of the world, we do not forget that at the very same time He is our father, and can also be approached as such. and to celebrate the "brit" (covenant) between God and the Jewish people as originally revealed in the Torah and as it has evolved through our history.

Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM

 
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