בס״ד רֹאׁש ROSH הַ ּׁשָ ָ נ ה HASHANA In loving memory of Harav Yitzchak Yoel ben Shlomo Halevi Volume 33 | #51 19 September 2020 1 Tishrei 5781 Shana Tova from Candle Lighting: Candles for Shabbat the US and the Daf and the first night of Rosh Hashana should be lit by 6.54pm Hashavua team Candles for Second Night Rosh Hashana should be lit after 7.53pm Rosh Hashana ends in London on Sunday night at 7.51pm Jerusalem Times: First night candles by 6.01pm Second night candles after 7.16pm Rosh Hashana ends at 7.14pm Fast of Gedaliah in London: The fast is on Monday, starting at 5.05am and ending at 7.42pm Please look regularly at the INSIDE: social media and websites of the US, Tribe and your community for ongoing updates relating to Coronavirus as well Opening Your Eyes as educational programming by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and community support. You do not need to sign into Facebook to access the US Facebook page. The US The Feelings of a Coronavirus Helpline is on 020 8343 5696. Mother May God bless us and the whole world. Daf Hashavua by Rebbetzen Nechama Davis Shana Tova! by Rabbi Baruch Davis, Chigwell & Hainault Synagogue, Daf Hashavua editor Welcome to the Daf them. For this special Rosh Hashana Hashavua for Rosh Daf, therefore, we have chosen four Hashana 5781. For us in articles from previous years that the United Synagogue, reflect this message: the Chief Rabbi it contains the tail end on seeing wellsprings of hope and of our 150th anniversary opportunity, Rebbetzen Nechama year. Although celebrations have Davis on what being a Jewish had to be curtailed, ironically, this parent requires from us, Rabbi year has in some ways been the Michael Laitner on the ripple effect United Synagogue’s “Finest Hour” in of our actions and Rabbi Gideon’s terms of supporting and inspiring its Sylvester’s helpful pointers for a members. meaningful Rosh Hashana. The editorial team of Daf Our particular thanks go to all of Hashavua is proud to have those who have assisted with Daf worked with a group of rabbis and Hashavua over the past year. These rebbetzens, Maayanot and other include the Tribe Scribe team of Jewish educators to keep everyone Rabbi Nicky Goldmeier, Shira Chalk involved, engaged and inspired with and Paul Solomons, Richard Herman Torah learning. of Hermie Design, Elmar Printers and We have all become aware of the US Marketing Team. how tenuous our existence is, how As this year with all its challenges United Synagogue Daf Hashavua challenging life can be. But we also comes to an end, the Daf Hashavua Produced by US Living & Learning see how many blessings we have. team wishes you all a happy and together with the Rabbinical Council of On Rosh Hashana, we reflect on healthy new year, full of blessings the United Synagogue these blessings and how we utilise and satisfaction. Editor-in-Chief: Rabbi Baruch Davis Editorial and Production Team: Rabbi Daniel Sturgess, Rabbi Michael Laitner, Leining Summary Rebbetzen Nechama Davis, Joanna Rose First Day Rosh Hashana www.theus.org.uk The Torah reading is divided into five aliyot, taken from a section of parashat Vayera ©United Synagogue 2020 (Bereishit chapter 21). Avraham’s wife Sarah is 90 years old and childless. On Rosh To sponsor Daf Hashavua please Hashana, God had ‘remembered’ her. Our reading begins with the subsequent birth contact Danielle Fox on 020 8343 6261, of Yitzchak. Sarah sees the potential negative effect that Avraham’s wayward first or [email protected] son, Yishmael, could have on Yitzchak. She tells Avraham to send away Yishmael If you have any comments or questions regarding Daf Hashavua please email and his mother Hagar. God tells the reluctant Avraham to do as Sarah has requested. [email protected] On the first day of Rosh Hashanah we read the dramatic account of how Hagar and Yishmael, cast into a barren wilderness, drank the last Opening drops of their water and feared the worst. Such was her despair that Hagar placed her child behind a bush and walked away because she could not bear to watch him die. Suddenly, an angel of God appeared to her and our Eyes said, “do not be afraid, God has heard by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis the boy crying”. And then follows a remarkable verse: “And God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water” of Selichot (penitential prayers) in the oneg of our experiences. That (Bereishit 21:17-19). Ashkenazi communities. Why do is why we call the prayers Selichot, Note that we are not told that God Selichot start every year on a Motsaei meaning forgiveness. We adopt miraculously produced a well of water Shabbat (Saturday night)? While a positive outlook, anticipating a in the midst of a harsh desert. Rather, Sefardim recite Selichot throughout favourable outcome before we even God “opened her eyes” to see, for the the month of Ellul through to Yom start. first time, that which had been there Kippur, Ashkenazim follow the view During the past year, we have all along. of the Rema (Rabbi Moses Iserles, endured the most devastating global Sometimes, when people sink 1530-1572) in the Shulchan Aruch to tragedy of our generation and as to their lowest ebb, when they are start on Motsaei Shabbat, at least yet, sadly, the end is still not in surrounded by negativity and engulfed four days before Rosh Hashanah. sight. Whilst at times we may have by fear and anguish, they lose the Rabbi Yisrael Isserlein ben Petachia felt like a country at its lowest ebb, capacity to discern opportunities for (known as ‘the Terumat HaDeshen’, through it all we have witnessed truly salvation. They fail to identify the 1390-1460) explains that the Sabbath outstanding examples of humanity positive phenomena which offer any day is filled with Oneg Shabbat, and and selflessness. We have been semblance of hope. we wish to take that pleasure and inspired to see how, in the midst of There are two Hebrew words joy of Shabbat with us through the a most terrible nega, our society has which have the same three letters: Selichot experience. discovered oneg. nega When we say Selichot, we confess May the coming year bring only) נגע oneg – pleasure) and) עגנ – a plague). The only difference our sins and recognise missed joy, happiness and good health for all. between them is where you put opportunities throughout the previous Two people can have year. It is a process which could be .(ע) your ayin the identical experience. One might faced with trepidation and fear. Yet, consider it a pleasure and the other, a instead, we bring the pleasure and joy plague – it all depends on where you of Shabbat with us. We do not dwell put your ayin (the Hebrew word for on the nega of life; we also highlight eye). It depends how you choose to view the situation. So often in life there are We have been wellsprings of hope and promise before us, but we fail to discern the inspired to see how opportunities that they present. In this in the midst of nega, context, we can better understand our tradition relating to the timing our society has for the commencement of the period discovered oneg. In loving memory of Chaya Rachel bat Moshe Ben-tzion The Feelings The Ultimate instinct which drives us to want to have children. And even when we Ripple Effect discover how demanding a child really of a Mother is, we often want to go on to have more children, to build a bigger family. by Rebbetzen Nechama Davis, To voluntarily give up one’s child Chigwell & Hainault United Synagogue seems the most counter-intuitive thing a loving mother would ever do. Yet Channah does it. Do we still do that In the haftarah that is with Channah. Who would not be today? read on the first day of distraught at being married for years Any parent who has ever waved Rosh Hashana, from without being able to conceive? their son or daughter goodbye as they the start of the Book of Who would not be distressed by the set off for a year or more to study Shmuel (Samuel), we torments of ‘the other wife’? And who in yeshiva or seminary, is following learn of how Channah prays for a child. would not be absolutely overjoyed to in the footsteps of Channah. Their She has been unable to have children finally have a beautiful, healthy little fervent hope is that their child will be for many years, while her husband boy? inspired to live a life dedicated to the Elkanah’s other wife, Peninah, has However, something then happens service of God. And any parent who become a mother many times over. which seems harder to relate to. has lived with their child serving in Peninah taunts her about this, which Channah keeps the promise she made the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) feels causes Channah such deep distress to God when she so passionately just as strongly. They hope and pray that she stops eating her portion of begged Him to send her a child – she that their own sacrifice (and sleepless the annual festive offerings. Channah’s gives him up! She takes him to serve nights) will mean that their child will beloved Elkanah, attempts to comfort in the Mishkan, to serve God and to be protecting and contributing to her: “Am I not better to you than ten serve the nation.