YOUNG ISRAEL OF HOLLYWOOD-FT. LAUDERDALE SEPTEMBER 2020 PAGE 3 RABBI WEINSTOCK’S MESSAGE “THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE” WHEN ROSH HASHANA FALLS ON SHABBAT If all the Jews are assembled on the Day of Judgement, and the Rosh Hashana), Rosh Hashana is called “Yom Teruah – a day of shofar does not sound, is it really Rosh Hashana? The shofar’s shofar blowing.” However, in Parshat Emor the day is described blast is symbolic of so many things and seems integral to our as “Zichron Teruah,” which is understood as a time of Rosh Hashana experience. And yet this year, we will not sound remembering the shofar through the recitation of shofar-themed the shofar on Day One of Rosh Hashana. How do we understand prayers. The Talmud explains that Rosh Hashana is a “Zichron the absence of the shofar when Rosh Hashana falls on Shabbat? Teruah” when it falls on Shabbat. One could suggest that shofar is incompatible with Shabbat Zichron Teruah plays center stage. We identifiy Rosh on Halachik grounds. However, this is not the case. The Mishna Hashana as Zichron Teruah in the Kiddush we will recite on teaches that in the Beit Hamikdash, the shofar was indeed blown Shabbat Rosh Hashana. We call the holiday Zichron Teruah on Shabbat. Even after the destruction of the Temple, Rabbi during each of the four Shemoneh Esrei’s that we recite over Yochanan Ben Zakkai wanted to perpetuate this practice in Shabbat. The fact that Zichron Teruah is utilized so often as a commemoration of the Temple. There is a dispute as to its exact description for the holiday indicates that this title is more than parameters, but Rabbi Yochanan instituted that under certain just a reference to the absence of shofar. Rather Zichron Teruah conditions, the shofar should be sounded on Rosh Hashana that hints at a fundamental aspect of Rosh Hashana. occurred on Shabbat. The concept of Remembrance is one of the three themes In fact, in 1881 Rabbi Akiva Yosef Schlesinger convened a highlighted in the Rosh Hashana Mussaf. The Talmud states: private minyan in which they blew shofar on Shabbat in the Old “Hashem stated: ‘Recite before Me on Rosh Hashana verses of City of Jerusalem. Rabbi Schlesinger, a prominent Rabbi at the Kingship, Remembrance and Shofar. Kingship verses to declare time, has a detailed Halakhic analysis why blowing shofar on Me King over you. Remembrance verses- so that the Shabbat is permissible in Jerusalem. Most authorities, although remembrance of you will come before me for good.’ And agreeing to his logic, strongly disagreed with Rabbi through what? Through the shofar.” Schlesinger’s actions. Rabbi Shmuel Salant instructed his In Malchuyot we coronate God as King of the Universe. community not to blow shofar, but he also said not to hold it This is an idea oft-repeated in our prayers. The shofar is the against those who would follow Rabbi Schlesinger’s view. Rav instrument by which we remind ourselves of so many facets of Kook’s father-in-law, the Aderet, was quoted as saying that if he the holiday. But it is easy for Zichronot to get lost in the shuffle. had another chance, he would go and stand outside of the shul to Out of the three themes, Zichronot is the least defined and the hear the shofar on Shabbat. least spoken of. From the Mishna and these stories we see that shofar IS an On Shabbat we are challenged to use our minds and hear appropriate and powerful symbol even when Rosh Hashana the shofar without it being sounded. To understand what it is we occurs on Shabbat. If we are going to look to the shofar for are listening for, it behooves us to focus on Zichronot- the aspect meaning as we do every Rosh Hashana, then we must try to hear of Rosh Hashana that focuses on memory. the shofar’s sound of silence. Human memory is the least defined and understood of our Have you ever heard a song on the radio and realized later faculties. Our memories can play tricks on us. Some memories that it was stuck in your head? No matter how hard you try, you are clear and vivid, and some are fuzzy and fade with the passage can’t stop singing it, or hearing it even if you’re not singing it. of time. The truth is, the more you try to stop thinking about it, the louder In the Rosh Hashana liturgy, we call G-d “Zocher the song becomes and the harder it is to get that song unstuck. Hanishkachot”- He who remembers those things that are It’s like you’re hearing music without the presence of any actual forgotten. This is a little bit scary because it means we can’t sound waves entering your ear. Last year, a team of researchers sweep our mistakes under the rug, hoping G-d will not notice the from Dartmouth University studied this phenomenon and discernable lump. Hashem remembers everything. At the same reported their findings in the scientific journal, Nature. Their time this concept is profoundly comforting and should give us research consisted of playing different songs, with and without hope. If G-d does not forget, then He remembers even little ol’ lyrics, to volunteers. Every song had a snippet cut out of it. me. I may not consider myself memorable or significant, but While the music played, they scanned the brain for activity. What Hashem certainly does. they found is that when familiar songs were played, the brain Our focus on Zichronot directs us to remember with the continued to be active- even during the silences when a piece of same intensity as God does. the song had been cut out. These volunteers reported that they We remember people, and each individual’s infinite worth. had mentally heard the entire song, even though parts of the song According to the Talmud, the Rabbis discontinued the never entered their ears as sound waves. practice of blowing shofar on Shabbat: , גזירה שמא יטלנו בידו וילך אצל הבקי ללמוד, ויעבירנו ארבע אמות It is possible for us to hear the shofar without it being ברשות הרבים. sounded. This type of hearing will only be available if we familiarize ourselves with a theme of Rosh Hashana that does not depend on the alarming blast of the shofar. The Talmud in Continued on page 15 ……. Masechet Rosh Hashana (29b) explains that our omission of the shofar service is based on the Torah’s use of two different terms in describing Rosh Hashana. 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Pesach Meals for those living alone Shavuot Meals for those living alone/homebound Happily, the hard work of so many people has enabled YIH community CoVID Recovery Fund Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur tfilah b’tzibbur in our usual locations, (with many modifications and some In Person Events limitations). In addition, we have created several options Yom Haatzmaut Epic Car Parade for those less comfortable with “regular” davening inside. Shabbat House Calls: has involved hundreds of families In addition to our focus on the in person tfillah, our already experience the last several months have enabled creative Post-Pesach Challah delivery thinking, and the development of our virtual platform to the Pre Shavuot Ice cream drive by point where there can truly be something for everyone this Pre Rosh Hashana Gift high holiday season. Reopening This idea of “something for everyone” has very much Outside in tents been on our minds as the pandemic has evolved and Inside bare bones davening lengthened in time. We have come to recognize that each Inside with a little more singing of us are truly stakeholders in the success of our Elul: start of inside with some short classes shul (please see attached article).