7/30/2019 Meaning and texture to the Holiday of Rosh Hashana

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Day of Judgement and RejoicingRabbi Eliezer Melamed

Rosh Hashana is the Day of Judgement, with all its awesome significance. It is

also a Yom Tov, a festive day. The meeting point between these seemingly

contradictory aspects of this extraordinary day in Emuna and Halacha.

Festive Clothing and Food on Rosh Hashana, the New YearThe Shulchan Aruch brings down the Halacha, that notwithstanding all the fear

and trembling associated with the Day of Judgement, we prepare for Rosh

HaShana like we do for a festival; for instance, we launder our clothing and get

haircuts. One could understandably think, to the contrary, that we should behave like mourners out of fear

of the judgement; but since we are certain that G-d will judge us righteously, we treat Rosh Hashana as a

festival. As our Sages say in the words of Rabbi Chanina and Rabbi Yehoshua: "Which nation is like this

nation, that knows the character of its G-d. For the majority of mankind, a man about to be put on trial wears

black and neglects his appearance because he doesn't know what the verdict will be. But not so with the

nation of Israel: they get haircuts and groom themselves beforehand and they wear white clothing and eatand drink on Rosh Hashana, since they know that G-d will perform a miracle for them" (Tur Orach Chaim).

The Words of the Sh'lah HaKadosh

The Sh'lah HaKadosh asks (Masechet Rosh HaShana, Torah Ohr), how can we be sure that a miracle will

happen and we will be judged favorably? We see with our own eyes that every year people die and others

suffer from diseases, meaning that no miracle occurred for them; if so, why are we certain that G-d will

perform a miracle for us on Rosh HaShana?

The Sh'lah answers, that everyone who stands before the Holy One, Blessed be He on Rosh HaShana in

prayer, and performs Tshuva (repentance), is assured that He will judge him favorably. However, in certain

cases, because of the world's imperfections and sins, G-d sees that it is better for someone that he should

die, and since that is so, he should also rejoice on Rosh HaShana, since by virtue of his prayer and Tshuva,

the Holy One will judge him in the manner that is the best and most appropriate for him.

The Seudot (Festive Meals) of Rosh HaShana

The prophet Nechemiah (8:1) said to the Jewish People after the prayer of Rosh HaShana: " Go eat hearty

food and drink sweet drink...for this is a holy day to our Lord; and be not sad, as rejoicing in G-d is your

strength".

And this is the Halacha, that we must eat and drink and rejoice on Rosh HaShana, and we are forbidden to

fast on this day. Nonetheless, one shouldn't (go to the other extreme) and fill his belly and gorge himself on

Rosh HaShana since one must maintain his fear of G-d and not become lighthearted (Shulchan Aruch).

The same is true in regard to clothing: Even though we should wear white, festive clothing, the Turei Zahav

wrote in the name of the Rashal that we shouldn't wear luxurious silk or embroidered garments in the

manner we wear them on other Festivals. This is in order that the fear of the judgement should remain upon

us (Mishna Berura).

* Written by the rabbi

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