Days of Awe, Days Ofjoy
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Days of , DaysAwe of Divrei Torah on Elul, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkos joy from 1999-2017 on TorahWeb.org With contributions by Rabbi Hershel Schachter, Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski, Rabbi Yakov Haber, Rabbi Eliakim Koenigsberg, Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger, Rabbi Michael Rosensweig, Rabbi Yonason Sacks, Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky, Rabbi Daniel Stein, Rabbi Mayer Twersky, Rabbi Mordechai Willig & Rabbi Benjamin Yudin Copyright © 2018 The TorahWeb Foundation No part of this publication may be translated, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from both the copyright holder and the publisher. Please send any suggestions, comments, or questions to [email protected] All rights reserved ISBN: 978-0-69215-026-9 Also available from TorahWeb More information about "Chinuch: Contemporary and Timeless" can be found in the appendix of this Sefer Distributed by Menucha Publishers Rav Hershel Schachter's notes from Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt"l's gemara shiurim ו' חלקים יצאו לאור: מס' גיטין מס' קידושין, פרקים א' - ב' מס' שבת מס' פסחים, ר"ה, יומא, ומגילה הלכות נדה עניני ציצית, עניני תפילין, והלכות קריאת התורה Distributed by Rabbi Yaakov Levitz About TorahWeb.org and this book The yomim tovim are not merely “holidays”, i.e. times to break from the rou- tine of daily life and celebrate some past event, group of people, or societal institution. Rather, each yom tov is distinctively, intrinsically holy, and it is the unique kedushas ha-yom of each yom tov which generates the mitzvos which Hakadosh Baruch Hu commands us to keep that day. Each yom tov, if properly appreciated and taken advantage of, can be a time of unique spiritual growth. The exceptional nature ofyomim tovim is perhaps most obvious and pro- nounced during the Yomim Noraim and in their aftermath, onSukkos . This volume collects nineteen years (1999-2017) of divrei Torah that provide in- sight and guidance regarding the obligations and opportunities that we each have every Elul and Tishrei. We hope that making them available in a sefer will, b’ezras Hashem, help each of us take maximal advantage of the unique oppor- tunities intrinsic to the Yomim Noraim and Sukkos. The divrei Torah contained herein were originally written by our rebbeim for TorahWeb.org. The realities of the time pressures with which these Torah lead- ers function on a daily basis result in the divrei Torah on the web site often not being properly edited, missing mareh mekomos, etc. These shortcomings were addressed for the version of the divrei Torah included in this volume. The TorahWeb Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, was founded in 1999 at the initiative of members of our community. Its goal is to disseminate divrei Torah and hashkafa, with special attention to contem- porary religious and social issues. TorahWeb’s board consists of Rav Hershel Schachter, Rav Michael Rosensweig, Rav Mayer Twersky, and Rav Mordechai Willig. TorahWeb’s primary projects have been publishing weekly divrei Torah written by our rebbeim on www.TorahWeb.org as well as on our email list and arranging for leilei iyun a number of times a year in various communities, the audio and video of which is available on TorahWeb.org as well. Neither the rebbeim nor other individuals involved in TorahWeb receive any finan- cial compensation. In addition, shuls receive the leil iyun programming free of charge. Please send any suggestions, comments, or questions to [email protected]. לז"נ הרב דוב זאב בן הרב יהושע מח"ס שמן הטוב Hyman & Ann Arbesfeld DEDICATED BY Congregation Bnai Yeshurun TEANECK, NEW JERSEY RABBI STEVEN PRUZANSKY ETHAN KEISER, PRESIDENT Young Israel of Woodmere IS PROUD TO HONOR THE Y.U. ROSHEI YESHIVA IN GRATITUDE TO TORAHWEB AND ALL THE WONDERFUL REBBEIM WHO ARE SPREADING AND SHARING THEIR INSPIRATIONAL TORAH RABBI EFREM GOLDBERG Boca Raton Synagogue Congregation Beth Aaron TEANECK, N.J. RABBI LARRY ROTHWACHS JOSH KLAVAN, PRESIDENT Congregation Beth Abraham BERGENFIELD, N.J. RABBI YAAKOV NEUBURGER, RABBI RABBI TANCHUM COHEN, ASSISTANT RABBI RABBI MOSHE TZVI WEINBERG, MASHPIA IN HONOR OF THE MEMBERS OF THE Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere IN DEDICATION TO OUR RAV AND REBBETZIN RAV ZVI & DR. EFRAT SOBOLOFSKY WITH TREMENDOUS HAKARAS HATOV FOR THE LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION, SHIURIM AND CHESED YOU PROVIDE TO OUR SHUL, THE TEANECK/ BERGENFIELD COMMUNITY, AND KLAL YISRAEL. MAY HASHEM PROVIDE YOU WITH GOOD HEALTH AND STRENGTH TO CONTINUE TO LEAD, GUIDE AND INSPIRE OUR SHUL AND THE COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. Congregation Ohr HaTorah Table of Contents Elul In the Pursuit of Happiness Rabbi Hershel Schachter ...................................................................................3 The Elul Shofar Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger ......................................................................... 7 LeDovid Hashem: Planning and Praying for the Right Things Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger ...............................................................................10 Deep Faith and Deep Love Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger ................................................................................13 Temptations and Triumphs: Ki Savo, the Parasha of Private Moments Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger ................................................................................16 The Significance of Rosh Chodesh and the Month of Elul Rabbi Michael Rosensweig ...........................................................................19 Ahavas Hashem: The Teshuva of Chodesh Elul Rabbi Michael Rosensweig ............................................................................23 Rambam’s View of Ahavas Hashem as the Telos of Teshuva, an Indispensable Manifestation of Avodas Hashem Rabbi Michael Rosensweig .............................................................................27 Interpersonal Teshuva Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski .......................................................................31 Glatt Kosher Is Not Enough Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski .......................................................................34 Teshuva: In Your Mouth and in Your Heart Rabbi Mayer Twersky ......................................................................................39 Transforming Attitude into Gratitude Rabbi Benjamin Yudin ....................................................................................42 Rosh Hashana An Attitude of Confidence Rabbi Hershel Schachter .................................................................................49 Malchuyos Rabbi Hershel Schachter .................................................................................51 Table of Contents Remembering the Beginning Rabbi Hershel Schachter .................................................................................54 The Light of Torah Rabbi Hershel Schachter .................................................................................57 Recommitting Ourselves to the Torah Shebe’al Peh Rabbi Hershel Schachter .................................................................................60 The Shofar: External and Internal Rabbi Yakov Haber ..........................................................................................66 Approaching Rosh Hashana: How to Earn His Patience and Tolerance Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger ...............................................................................69 A Blueprint for Teshuva Rabbi Michael Rosensweig .............................................................................72 Yom Terua and Zichron Terua: The Centrality of Mitzvas Shofar Even on Shabbos Rosh Hashana Rabbi Michael Rosensweig .............................................................................79 Zichron Terua: Perspectives on Tekias Shofar Rabbi Yonason Sacks .......................................................................................84 Creating the Mood for Rosh Hashana Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky ......................................................................................89 A Cry from the Soul Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky ......................................................................................92 A Good and Sweet Year Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky ......................................................................................95 Wrong Way! Rabbi Daniel Stein ...........................................................................................98 Malchus: The Theme of Rosh Hashana Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski .....................................................................102 Fear and Love, Truth and Peace Rabbi Mordechai Willig ................................................................................106 The Months, Divine Attributes and Purpose of Creation Rabbi Mordechai Willig ................................................................................111 Praying for What? Rabbi Benjamin Yudin ..................................................................................115 On the Edge Rabbi Benjamin Yudin ..................................................................................118 If at First You Don’t Succeed Rabbi Benjamin Yudin ..................................................................................122 Going “Sho-Far” for Hashem Rabbi Benjamin Yudin ..................................................................................126 Group Coverage Rabbi Benjamin Yudin ..................................................................................129 Be Basket-like