We conclude the series of guidelines to help you get the most from your Shul experience this Yom Tov
Three Books are opened on Rosh HaShana
Although the central theme of Rosh HaShana is
G-d's sovereignty over the entire world, Rosh HaShana is also the Day of Judgment. In the Talmud we are told that three books are opened on Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, and that our fate for the forthcoming year is decided at this time. To reflect this, various additions to the Amida have been instituted.
a) In the first blessing of the Amida the following is added: "Remember us for life, King who desires life, and write us in the book of life, for Your sake Living G- d."
b) In the second blessing: "Who is like you merciful king, who remembers his creations for life, with mercy."
c) In the second last blessing, the following is added, "Inscribe for a good life all the children of Your covenant."
d) In the last blessing, "And in the Book of life, blessing, peace and prosperity, deliverance, consolation and favourable decrees ... "
The theme of the Books also runs through one of the most famous Jewish prayers, Unesaneh Tokef, where we read: "On Rosh HaShana it is inscribed, and on the fast of Yom Kippur it is sealed, how many shall pass away and how many shall be born, who shall live and who shall die; who shall finish in his allotted time, and who not..."
As mentioned above, the Amida consists of three sections. The middle section, which contains petitional prayers to G-d, is not recited on Shabbat and festivals, and is replaced instead with a single blessing outlining the significance of the day.
During the Rosh HaShana Musaf, however, and this is the only time when this occurs throughout the entire year, three blessings outlining the significance of the day are recited instead of the usual one. These are called malchiyot, zichronotand shofrot, each containing ten Biblical verses.
1. Malchiyot
This blessing speaks of G-d's kingship. The most ancient prayer in this section is the Aleinu, attributed to Joshua ben Nun. Although since the fourteenth century it has been recited at the conclusion of every service, it was originally only said in the RoshHaShana Musaph Amida.
The Aleinu contains thanksgiving to G-d for showing us, His People, the path of Truth, while at the same time expressing the hope that soon all the nations of the world will be-hold the glory of G-d. "To perfect the world under the sovereignty of the Almighty. All mankind shall invoke Your Name, to turn to You all the wicked of the earth. Then all the inhabitants of the world will recognize and know that every knee should bend to You ... "The Lord shall be King over the entire earth; on that day the Lord shall be One and His Name One."
2. Zichronot
These verses describe how G-d has a record and account of everything, and of how nothing is forgotten.
On the one hand it is a stimulation for us to repent in the knowledge that everything is recorded by G-d. On the other, we call upon G-d to recall the way our people have sacrificed themselves for Him and to remember the promises and covenants He made with our forefathers. The blessing concludes, "Blessed are you, G-d, who remembers the covenant."
3. Shofrot
Finally, the blessing of Shofrot speaks of the great moments of Jewish history when the shofar was sounded and will be sounded, specifically the birth of our nation at Mount Sinai and the culmination of history at the advent of the Moshiach.
Shofar
Of course, one of the most central aspects of Rosh HaShana is the blowing of the Shofar. Rabbi Saadia Gaon, one of the earliest Jewish philosophers, gives ten reasons for the sounding of the Shofar, five of which are listed here:
a) Rosh HaShana is the anniversary of the creation of Adam. Upon his creation, Adam proclaimed G-d King of the universe. As the coronation of a King is preceded by the sounding of horns and trumpets, the blowing of the shofar on Rosh HaShana. reminds us of this very first coronation and of the need to re-proclaim G-d as king every single year.
b) The piercing sound of the shofar is a call to repentance.
c) The shofar reminds of the shofar of Mt Sinai where we accepted G-d as King and agreed to abide by his commandments.
d) The ram's horn reminds us of Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac for the sake of G-d. In the end, he brought a ram as a sacrifice instead.
e) The shofar reminds us of the Messiah who will sound a shofar at the time of our redemption.
Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM
Welcome to the Sandra Bransky Library & Youth Synagogue, located on the first floor and including the Beit Midrash. Drop in any Sunday morning between 9 - 11am.