Devar/5770/Rosh Hashanah
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עברית
English
And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have a holy convocation: ye shall do no manner of servile work; it is a day of blowing the horn unto you (Num 29:1)
This shabbat we begin a new year, 5770 since the Creation of the universe according to our system of counting. It is not just a regular shabbat where we are restricted from certain kinds of work, but in addition it is rosh hashanah (the new year) -- a holy convocation, during which there is also a prohibition of performing certain kinds of work. This double cessation from work does not entail any additional restrictions for us. Even the prohibition of blowing the shofar on this shabbat which is also rosh hashanah does not stem from the doubled cessation, but was rather a legal enactment of our Sages. And despite the fact there is no legal side to this (doubling of cessation of work), it is possible to find hints in the matter.
The universe at creation time was unformed and void (Gen 1:2). Dark and empty. There was nothing, not even a sound -- until God said: 'Let there be light.' (ibid 3). The entire universe was created by an "utterance" of God's. This is to inform you of the power of speech -- that by means of it worlds are created, and also destroyed.
At the conclusion of the work of Creation, the Holy One blessed be He ceased (shavat) from his activities: And on the seventh day God finished His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. (ibid 2:2). Even though He did not "work" in the sense we are familiar with, he shavat -- ceased His activity -- on the first shabbat. All the things He created, He created through His speech -- except for His forming of man.
Humans have a special power, the power of speech. Therefore the Targum Onqelos explains the verse and man became a living soul (ibid 2:7) like so: and (the soul which God set in the man) became a "speaking spirit". This tool is unique in the animal world. Through it we transmit knowledge from generation to generation, build kingdoms and advance the state of humanity from day to day. But on the other hand, there is a negative side -- slander, misrepresentation, false witness. God in His benevolence gave us an immense power, to do with as we wish -- and it is incumbent upon us to control it and to turn it to the side of good.
This is one of the hints embedded in the sounding of the shofar on rosh hashanah. That penetrating sound is, on the one hand, a call to repentance -- to return to God. On the other hand, it is the sound of an alarm -- of danger and fear -- that which is likely to be our lot should we choose not to return to God with all our hearts. Let us use this shabbat which is also the first day of rosh hashanah to give our tongues a rest from any improper speech, and prepare ourselves for the sounding of the shofar -- the call to return -- on the "day of blowing" on the following day.
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