Rosh Hashana Thoughts

CHIZUK & IDUD BY RABBI YERACHMIEL RONESS for Olim & Not-yet-Olim Ramat Shiloh, Beit Shemesh “I was blessed to have had a Father!” Rosh Hashana This shift away from living memory, and direct sensory experience, leaves us Thoughts experientially impoverished. Our nostalgic appreciation of the holy n previous generations, questions days is based upon the senses. For many, regarding different aspects of Jewish the sense of taste takes center stage Ipractice were determined primarily as memories of the Yomim Tovim are by the living traditions passed on from primarily linked to a Bubby’s chicken mother to daughter and from father to soup, gefilte fish or Keneidlach - much son. All Minhagim of the festivals and more than anything else... Thus, when holy days were determined by the direct thinking of Rosh Hashana, many will memory of experiences in one’s home or naturally think of the apple dipped in shul, and instances of uncertainty would honey, or of the Tzimmus served at the lead one to consult a member of the older Yom Tov Seuda together with the other generation. As Prof. Chaim Soloveitchik Simanim. I distinctly remember the has demonstrated, though, large sections crestfallen face of a Russian Oleh we of post-war Jewry, have supplanted this hosted at our Seder-table many years source of information, with a newly back, as he discovered that Kneidlach established text-based culture. were simply not part of the Roness menu Nowadays, when one is unsure how to (Gebrokhts!). This man’s childhood proceed, what should be eaten at each memories of sitting at his grandmother’s stage of the meal etc., instead of turning Seder, led him to feel that Pesach itself was to an elder member of the community, synonymous with Keneidlach. Culinary we will turn to the bookshelf and open Judaism, if you will… up a Sefer in order to determine the For others, the sense of sound may be recommended book-based custom. more prominent as the Holy Days conjure Rav Aryeh Hendler speaks of a yeshiva up bitter-sweet memories of a favorite student admonishing his father for not niggun, or perhaps the unforgettable acting in accordance with the Mishnah image of a singular Shaliach Tzibbur. Brurah: “The Mishnah Brurah is for Personally, I remember well the Ba’al orphans”, was the father’s annoyed reply, Mussaf for Rosh Hashana day we all 84 TORAH TIDBITS / ROSH HASHANA 5781 impatiently waited for some 50 years animal is available, one may even use the ago in the Beit Midrash of Mercaz HaRav horn of a non-kosher animal. Rav Kook Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. Rav Aryeh Levin explained that this hints to the fact that zt”l was running late since he had not yet the redemption can take one of a number concluded his circuit of Bikkur Cholim of possible natural forms. Each type of in the various hospitals of Jerusalem. shofar corresponds to a different level His dedication and mesirut nefesh left of redemption: The highest madrega is a deep imprint upon me, as he chose to when a Jew consumed by a deep longing prepare for his rendezvous with G-d by for Yerushalayim shel Ma’ala, emulates comforting his fellow man. Avraham Avinu, heeding the call of Lech Lecha Me’artzecha and sets out towards For others the most salient memories will Har Hamoriah to enter Yerushalayim shel surely be of the plaintive cry of the Shofar, Mata. as it resonates throughout our collective consciousness, triggering, and blending The second shofar, a horn taken from any together, associations of the most kosher animal, represents those Kosher powerful and formative events of Jewish Yidden who choose to return to the Land history– both past and future: Conjuring of their ancestors in order to separate up images of Har Sinai together with Har themselves, and safeguard their children, HaMoriah; the crowning of the King of from the alien influences of the Diaspora. Kings, and the messianic shofar of the The last possibility, a shofar originating end of days. For many 20th century Jews from a non-kosher animal, represents the blowing of the Shofar is inextricably those who run to Eretz Yisrael in order bound with the image of Rav Goren zt”l to avoid anti Semitic persecution. Here during the Six Day War, and the historic the call of the shofar does not beckon and proclamation of “Har HaBayit B’yadeinu”. invite, but rather strikes fear in the hearts of those fleeing the terrible sounds made In a memorable drasha delivered by by non-kosher animals in human form. Rav Kook zt”l at the Churva Synagogue in 1933, he discussed the exact nature of Ultimately, all Jews will hear one Shofar the Shofaro shel Mashiach - the ‘Shofar or another and make their way back to Gadol L’cheiruteinu” which will draw our Eretz Yisrael. People together ‘from all four corners of This year as the Shofar is heard, we the land’. all need to ask ourselves a penetrating Rav Kook noted that from a halakhic question: “For whom does the Shofar perspective three types of Shofarot can toll?” be utilized: Ideally the shofar should be We hope and pray that we all hear the fashioned from a ram’s horn, however, Shofar and act accordingly! when necessary any kosher animal’s horn can suffice. When no kosher Shana Tova To All OU ISRAEL CENTER 85.

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