Mussaf Rosh Hashono

Just before we go through the topics, it is important that when we are davening the Rosh Hashonoh mussaf that we should allow ourselves to flow through the tefillah. We should not get nervous and think that it is flowing too much and going too quickly. The flow is good and it should be this way because the truth of it is that the topics do create one flow.

We say 3 possukim at the beginning of Malchiyus, Zichronos and Shoforos. During the rest of the year, we use the wording given to us by the Anshei Kenesses Hagedolah. However, on Rosh Hashonah we use possukim from the Torah. The reason is because it is being said here, the core truth of Klal Yisroel. The core truth is like real estate! It cannot move or change. The Torah is our core and therefore we use the possukim to express this, instead of us or the Anshei Kenesses Hagedolah.

malchuyos – connection with Hashem

עַל כֵּן נְקַוֶּה לְּךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, לִרְאוֹת מְהֵרָה בְּתִפְאֶרֶת עֻזֶּךָ, לְהַעֲבִיר גִּלּוּלִים מִן הָאָרֶץ, וְהָאֱלִילִים כָּרוֹת יִכָּרֵתוּן, לְתַקֵּן עוֹלָם בְּמַלְכוּת שַׁדַּי. וְכָל בְּנֵי בָשָׂר יִקְרְאוּ בִשְׁמֶךָ, לְהַפְנוֹת אֵלֶיךָ כָּל רִשְׁעֵי אָרֶץ,

‘Al Ken Nekaveh lecho Hashem Elokeinu liros meheirah besiferes uzecha lehaavir gilulim min hooretz vehoelilim koros yikoreisun lesaken olam bemalchus shakai vechol bnei bosor yikreu vishmecha lehafnos elecha kol rishei oretz.’

‘Therefore we put our hope in You, Hashem our G-d, that we may soon see Your mighty splendor, to remove detestable idolatry from the earth, and false gods will be utterly cut off, to perfect the universe through the Almighty’s sovereignty.  Then all humanity will call upon Your Name, to turn all the earth’s wicked towards You.’

We, unlike the non-Jews have a real connection with Hashem when we are davening. When we say that we hope, we do not mean that we are hoping for something which exists somewhere else. Rather, we are saying that we hope that the existing reality of our connection with Hashem, should become recognizable to the world.

. יַכִּירוּ וְיֵדְעוּ כָּל יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל, כִּי לְךָ תִּכְרַע כָּל בֶּרֶךְ, תִּשָּׁבַע כָּל לָשׁוֹן. לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יִכְרְעוּ וְיִפּוֹלוּ, וְלִכְבוֹד שִׁמְךָ יְקָר יִתֵּנוּ, וִיקַבְּלוּ כֻלָּם אֶת עוֹל מַלְכוּתֶךָ, וְתִמְלוֹךְ עֲלֵיהֶם מְהֵרָה לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד

‘Yakiru veyedu kol yoshvei sevel ki lecha tichra kol berech tishovah kol loshon lefonecha Hashem Elokeinu yichreu veyipolu velichvod shimchah yekor yiteinu viykablu chulam es ol malchusecha vesimloch aleihem meheirah leolom voed.’

‘All the world’s inhabitants will recognize and know that to You every knee should bend, every tongue should swear.  Before You, Hashem, our G-d, they will bend every knee and cast themselves down and to the glory of Your Name they will render homage, and they will all accept upon themselves the yoke of Your Kingship that You may reign over them soon and eternally.’

When this connection will be revealed as we just said, then the world will become a different place.

: כִּי הַמַּלְכוּת שֶׁלְּךָ הִיא, וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עַד תִּמְלֹךְ בְּכָבוֹד כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ: יְהֹוָה יִמְלוֹךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:

‘Ki hamalchus shelchah hi uleolmei ad timloch bechovod kakosuv besorosecha Hashem Yimloch Leolom voed’

‘For the kingdom is Yours and you will reign for all eternity in glory as it is written in your Torah: Hashem shall reign for all eternity.’

Specifically because this connection (malchus) is Yours Hashem, therefore for sure it will happen because nothing can stop you.

וְנֶאֱמַר, לֹא הִבִּיט אָוֶן בְּיַעֲקֹב, וְלֹא רָאָה עָמָל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו עִמּוֹ, וּתְרוּעַת מֶלֶךְ בּוֹ:

‘Lo hibit oven beyaakov velo rooh omol beyisroel Hashem Elokov imo useruas Melech bo’

‘He gazes at no iniquity in Jacob and sees no evil schemes in Israel; Hashem his G-d is with him, and the affection of the King is in him.’

This possuk was said by Bilaam. He had wanted to curse us based on our aveiras. But, Hashem doesn’t even see our aveiras because our connection with Him is so much deeper and stronger than these aveiras.

יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו עִמּוֹ, וּתְרוּעַת מֶלֶךְ בּוֹ:

‘Hashem elokov imo useruas melech bo’

‘Hashem his G-d is with him, and the affection of the King is in him’

One of the peirushim of truas is from the word reus – friendship. This means that we have a friendship with Hashem. You can be connected with Him.

וְנֶאֱמַר, וַיְהִי בִישֻׁרוּן מֶלֶךְ בְּהִתְאַסֵּף רָאשֵׁי עָם יַחַד שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:

‘Veneemar vayhi biyshurun Melech behisasef roshei om Yachad shivtei Yisroel’

‘And it is said; And He became King in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people assembled, the tribes of Israel together.’

The connection that we have with Hashem doesn’t come just from Him. It requires us to come together with one another, in unity. Once we do this, then the connection that is already here, becomes revealed.

Now we move onto the three possukim from Kesuvim which tells us how Hashem’s malchus works out in our world:

וּבְדִבְרֵי קָדְשְׁךָ כָּתוּב לֵאמֹר, כִּי לַיהֹוָה הַמְּלוּכָה וּמשֵׁל בַּגּוֹיִם:

‘Uvedivrei kodshecha kosuv leimor ki lahashem hameluchah umoshel bagoyim’

‘In Your Holy Writings the following is written: For the sovereignty is Hashem’s and He rules over nations.’

The malchus of Hashem that is in our world is one that Hashem rules the world and everything happens according to His rule.

וְנֶאֱמַר, יְהֹוָה מָלָךְ גֵּאוּת לָבֵשׁ, לָבֵשׁ יְהֹוָה עוֹז הִתְאַזָּר, אַף תִּכּוֹן תֵּבֵל בַּל תִּמּוֹט:

‘Veneemar Hashem Moloch geus lovesh lovesh hashem oz hisazor af tikon teivel bal timot’

‘And it is said: Hashem will have reigned, He will have donned grandeur; He will have donned might and girded Himself; even firmed the world that it shoul not falter.’

Hashem is founding the world so that it should not collapse.

וְנֶאֱמַר, שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים רָאשֵׁיכֶם וְהִנָּשְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵי עוֹלָם וְיָבוֹא מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד: מִי זֶה מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד יְהֹוָה עִזּוּז וְגִבּוֹר יְהֹוָה גִּבּוֹר מִלְחָמָה::

‘Seu shearim rosheichem vehinossu pischei olam veyovo Melech hakovod.mi zeh Melech hakovod Hashem izuz vegibor Hashem gibor milchomah.’

‘Raise up your heads, O gates, and be uplifted, you everlasting entrances, so that the King of Glory may enter.  Who is this King of Glory? – Hashem, the mighty and strong, Hashem, the strong in battle.’

I remember the Mashgiach in the Mir Yeshivah banging on the shtender, saying that this is Hashem who comes knocking on the door, telling us to let Him in. We say back ‘who is this Hashem– we don’t know who He is.

שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים רָאשֵׁיכֶם וּשְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵי עוֹלָם וְיָבוֹא מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד: מִי הוּא זֶה מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת הוּא מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד סֶלָה

‘Seu shearim rosheichem useu pischei olam veyovo Melech hakovod. Mi hu zeh Melech hakovod Hashem tzevakos hu Melech hakovod selah.’

‘Raise up your heads, O gates, and raise up, you everlasting entrances, so that the King of Glory may enter.  Who then is the King of Glory?  Hashem, Master of Legions, He is the King of Glory, Selah!’

Hashem bangs again and tells us to let Him in. We then say that He is Hashem tzevakos– He is connected to us because we are His tzavah, His army.

So, we have said the statement from the pessukim of Torah. Then we said pessukim of Kesuvim to say how this statement works out in this world. Now, we say the pessukim from Navi which speaks about how it will work out in the Time to Come.

וְעַל יְדֵי עֲבָדֶיךָ הַנְּבִיאִים כָּתוּב לֵאמֹר, כֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹאֲלוֹ יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת, אֲנִי רִאשׁוֹן וַאֲנִי אַחֲרוֹן, וּמִבַּלְעָדַי אֵין אֱלֹהִים:

‘ko omar Hashem Melech Yisroel vegoaloh hashem tzevakos ani rishon veani acharon umibalodai ein elokim.’

‘So said Hashem, the King of Israel and its Redeemer; Hashem of Legions: “I am the first and I am the last and aside from Me there is no other god.’

The connection encompasses everything in all times from the beginning to the end.

וְנֶאֱמַר, וְעָלוּ מוֹשִׁעִים בְּהַר צִיּוֹן לִשְׁפּוֹט אֶת הַר עֵשָׂו וְהָיְתָה לַיהֹוָה הַמְּלוּכָה:

‘Veneemar veolu moshiim behar tziyon lishpot es har eisav vehoysa lahashem hameluchah’

‘And it is said: The saviors will ascend Mount Zion to judge Esau’s mountain and the kingdom will be Hashem’s.’

The connection of Hashem to us will close the challenges that we have from Esav and the other nations.

וְנֶאֱמַר, וְהָיָה יְהֹוָה לְמֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה יְהֹוָה אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד:

‘Veneemar vehoyah hashem lemelech al kol hooretz bayom hahu yihyeh hashem echod ushemo echod’

‘And it is said: Then Hashem will be King over all the world, on that day Hashem will be One and His Name will be One.’

In the Time To Come there will be a revelation of yichudo yisborach.

Now we have the 10^th possuk coming from Torah to tie it all up together

וּבְתוֹרָתְךָ כָּתוּב לֵאמֹר שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהֹוָה אֶחָד:

‘Uvesoroscha kosuv lemor shemah Yisroel hashem elokeinu hashem echod’

‘And in Your Torah it is written as follows: Hear, O Israel: Hashem is our G-d, Hashem, the One and Only.’

Shema Yisroel – this is the reality of us Yisroel from having this connection with Him.

Hashem Elokeinu – His hashgacha is connected to us and guiding us.

Hashem echod – in the future He will be one.

אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, מְלוֹךְ עַל כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בִּכְבוֹדֶךָ, וְהִנָּשֵׂא עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ בִּיקָרֶךָ, וְהוֹפַע בַּהֲדַר גְּאוֹן עֻזֶּךָ עַל כָּל יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל אַרְצֶךָ, וְיֵדַע כָּל פָּעוּל, כִּי אַתָּה פְעַלְתּוֹ:

 ‘Elokeinu velokei avoseinu meloch al kol ho-olom kulo bichvodecha vehinosei al kol hooretz bikorecha vehofah bahadar geon uzecha al kol yoshvei sevel arzecha veyeda kol poul ki atoh pealto’

‘Our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers, reign over the entire universe in Your glory; be exalted over all the world in Your splendor, reveal Yourself in the majestic grandeur of Your strength over all the dwellers of your inhabited world.  Let everything that has been made know that You are its Maker.’

The malchus should enter into the penimius of the beriyah.

, וְיָבִין כָּל יְצוּר, כִּי אַתָּה יְצַרְתּוֹ,

‘Veyovin kol yetzur ki atoh yetzarto’

‘let everything that has been molded understand that You are its Molder’

It should enter into the malachim.

וְיֹאמַר כֹּל אֲשֶׁר נְשָׁמָה בְאַפּוֹ, יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֶלֶךְ, וּמַלְכוּתוֹ בַּכֹּל מָשָׁלָה:

‘Veyomar ko lasher Neshama beapo Hashem Elokei Yisroel Melech umalchuso bakol mosholah’

‘Let everything with a life’s breath in its nostrils proclaim: “Hashem, the G-d of Israel, is King, and His Kingship rules over everything.”’

Now we say this on the madreigah of the neshamah.

 קַדְּשֵׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתֶיךָ, וְתֵן חֶלְקֵנוּ בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ, שַׂבְּעֵנוּ מִטּוּבֶךָ וְשַׂמְּחֵנוּ בִּישׁוּעָתֶךָ וְטַהֵר לִבֵּנוּ לְעָבְדְּךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, כִּי אַתָּה אֱלֹהִים אֱמֶת, וּדְבָרְךָ אֱמֶת וְקַיָּם לָעַד

 ‘Kadsheinu bemitzvosechah vesen chelkeinu besorosecha sabeinu mituvecha vesamcheinu biyshuosecha’

‘Sanctify us with Your commandments and grant us our share in Your Torah; satisfy us from Your goodness and gladden us with Your salvation.’

 

Asher kideshonu means that Hashem has already sanctified. However, here we ask (like on every Shabbos and yom tov) that Hashem should give us more penimius.

. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, מֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ, מְקַדֵּשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן

‘Baruch atoh hashem Melech al kol hooretz mekadesh Yisroel veyom hazikoron’

‘Blessed are You, Hashem, King over all the world, Who sanctifies Israel and the Day of Remembrance.’

This is the ending of malchiyus.

ZICHRONOS – klal Yisroel and we as individuals are important to Hashem

A word on zichronos before we begin. We are not focusing on how we will be judged based on everything we did. Rather the yesod of zichronos is that we, klal Yisroel and we as individuals are important to Hashem. Therefore, everything we have done is considered and is important to Him. This means that zichronos doesn’t just mean that Hashem has a video camera and now on Rosh Hashonah He reviews it all.

אַתָּה זוֹכֵר מַעֲשֵׂה עוֹלָם וּפוֹקֵד כָּל יְצוּרֵי קֶדֶם

‘Atoh zocher maasei olam ufoked kol yetzurei kedem’ …

‘You remember the deeds done in the universe and You recall all the creatures fashioned since earliest times.’

Hashem remembers all these important things like Odom Harishon, from the beginning of the creation.

. לְפָנֶיךָ נִגְלוּ כָּל תַּעֲלוּמוֹת וַהֲמוֹן נִסְתָּרוֹת שֶׁמִּבְּרֵאשִׁית. כִּי אֵין שִׁכְחָה לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא כְבוֹדֶךָ וְאֵין נִסְתָּר מִנֶּגֶד עֵינֶיךָ: אַתָּה זוֹכֵר אֶת כָּל הַמִּפְעָל. וְגַם כָּל הַיְצוּר לֹא נִכְחַד מִמֶּךָּ

 ‘Atoh zocher es kol hamifol vegam kol hayetzur lo nichchad mimeka’

‘You remember everything ever done and not a single creature is hidden from you.’

Hashem remembers also everything that happens in the world as they are also important to Him.

הַכֹּל גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, צוֹפֶה וּמַבִּיט עַד סוֹף כָּל הַדּוֹרוֹת.

‘Hakol goluy veyoduah lefonecha hashem elokeinu tzofeh umabit ad sof kol hadoros’

‘Everything is revealed and known before You, Hashem, our G-d Who keeps watch and sees to the end of all generations.’

Not only are things from the beginning of creation, such as Odom, Avrohom Avinu etc., important to Him. Not only are things which happen now in our world important to Him. Now we say that everything that will happen is also important to Him.

כִּי תָבִיא חוֹק זִכָּרוֹן לְהִפָּקֵד כָּל רוּחַ וָנָפֶשׁ. לְהִזָּכֵר מַעֲשִׂים רַבִּים וַהֲמוֹן בְּרִיּוֹת לְאֵין תַּכְלִית.

‘Ki sovi chok zikaron lehipoked kol ruach vonefesh lehizocher maasim rabim vehamon briyos leein tachlis’

‘When you bring about a decreed time of remembrance for every spirit and soul to be recalled for abundant deeds and a multitude of creatures without limit’.

He looks around everywhere and sees what is important for Him.

: מֵרֵאשִׁית כָּזֹאת הוֹדָעְתָּ, וּמִלְּפָנִים אוֹתָהּ גִּלִיתָ. זֶה הַיּוֹם תְּחִלַּת מַעֲשֶׂיךָ, זִכָּרוֹן לְיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן. כִּי חוֹק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא מִשְׁפָּט לֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב: ‘

Mereishis kozos hodoto umilfonim osah gilisa zeh hayom techilas maasecha zikoron leyom rishon ki chok leyisroel hu mishpot lelokei yaakov’

‘You made this known from the beginning of creation and You revealed it from earliest times. This day is the anniversary of the start of Your handiwork, a remembrance of the first day. For it is a decree for Israel, a judgement day for the G-d of Yaakov.’

This mishpat is also for Him. It is important until also His realm.

וְעַל הַמְּדִינוֹת בּוֹ יֵאָמֵר אֵיזוֹ לַחֶרֶב, וְאֵיזוֹ לַשָּׁלוֹם, אֵיזוֹ לָרָעָב, וְאֵיזוֹ לָשּבַע, וּבְרִיּוֹת בּוֹ יִפָּקֵדוּ לְהַזְכִּירָם לְחַיִּים וְלַמָּוֶת.

‘Veal hamedinos bo yeomer eizo lacherev veeizo lasholom eizo loroov veeizo lasholom eizo loroov veeizo lasovah uberyios bo yipokeidu lehazkiram lechaim velamoves’

‘Regarding countries, it is said on this day which is destined for the sword and which for peace which for hunger and which for abundance and creatures are recalled on it to remember them for life or death.’

The more important that you are for Hashem, this makes how He will relate to you.

מִי לֹא נִפְקַד כְּהַיּוֹם הַזֶּה. כִּי זֵכֶר כָּל הַיְצוּר לְפָנֶיךָ בָּא. מַעֲשֵׂה אִישׁ וּפְקֻדָּתוֹ וַעֲלִילוֹת מִצְעֲדֵי גָבֶר. מַחְשְׁבוֹת אָדָם וְתַחְבּוּלוֹתָיו וְיִצְרֵי מַעַלְלֵי אִישׁ: אַשְׁרֵי אִישׁ שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁכָּחֶךָּ, וּבֶן אָדָם יִתְאַמֶּץ בָּךְ, כִּי דוֹרְשֶׁיךָ, לְעוֹלָם לֹא יִכָּשֵׁלוּ, וְלֹא יִכָּלְמוּ לָנֶצַח כָּל הַחוֹסִים בָּךְ: כִּי זֵכֶר כָּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים לְפָנֶיךָ בָּא וְאַתָּה דוֹרֵשׁ מַעֲשֵׂה כֻּלָּם:

‘Ashrei ish shelo yishkocheka’

‘Fortunate is the man who doesn’t forget You.’

Our only eitza in this is that we do not forget Hashem. We take His side seriously.

וְגַם אֶת נֹחַ בְּאַהֲבָה זָכַרְתָּ. וַתִּפְקְדֵהוּ בִּדְבַר יְשׁוּעָה וְרַחֲמִים, בַּהֲבִיאֲךָ אֶת מֵי הַמַּבּוּל לְשַׁחֵת כָּל בָּשָׂר מִפְּנֵי רוֹעַ מַעַלְלֵיהֶם. עַל כֵּן זִכְרוֹנוֹ בָּא לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, לְהַרְבּוֹת זַרְעוֹ כְּעַפְרוֹת תֵּבֵל וְצֶאֱצָאָיו כְּחוֹל הַיָּם

 ‘Vegam es noach beahavah zocharto vatifkdeihu bidvar yeshuah verachamim behaviacha es mei hamabul leshaches kol bosor mipnei roa maalleyhem’

‘And also You remembered Noach with love and You recalled him with words of salvation and mercy when You brought the waters of the flood to destroy all living flesh because of the evil of their deeds.’

After the mabul and the destruction of the world Hashem tells Noach to go out and repopulate the world because the world is very important to Hashem.

כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ, וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת נֹחַ, וְאֵת כָּל הַחַיָּה, וְאֶת כָּל הַבְּהֵמָה, אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ בַּתֵּבָה, וַיַּעֲבֵר אֱלֹהִים רוּחַ עַל הָאָרֶץ וַיָּשֹׁכּוּ הַמָּיִם:

‘Vayizkor elokim es noach vees kol hachayah vees kol habehema asher ito bateiva vayaaver elokim ruach al hooretz vayoshoku hamoyim veneemar vayishmah elokim es naakosom vayizkor elokim es briso … veneemar vezocharti es brisi yaakov veaf es brisi Yitzchak veaf es brisi Avrohom ezkor vehooretz ezkor’

‘And Hashem remembered Noach and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark and Hashem caused a spirit to pass over the earth and the water subsided’.

These 3 possukim are all at times of disaster. The first was at a time of the disaster of the world of the mabul, but even still Noach was important to Hashem.

: וְנֶאֱמַר, וַיִּשְׁמַע אֱלֹהִים אֶת נַאֲקָתָם, וַיִּזְכּוֹר אֱלֹהִים אֶת בְּרִיתוֹ, אֶת אַבְרָהָם אֶת יִצְחָק וְאֶת יַעֲקֹב:

 The second possuk is when klal Yisroel were in Egypt. They had terrible maasim and surely it would have been better to have just left them in Egypt with all the tumah. Even still Hashem heard our tefillos because the core of klal Yisroel is what was important to Him, not our maasim.

וְנֶאֱמַר, וְזָכַרְתִּי אֶת בְּרִיתִי יַעֲקוֹב, וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי יִצְחָק, וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי אַבְרָהָם אֶזְכּוֹר, וְהָאָרֶץ אֶזְכּוֹר::

The third possuk is said in the middle of the tochocha. Klal Yisroel is important to Hashem even when He is enraged with us. Klal Yisroel is important to Hashem.

וּבְדִבְרֵי קָדְשְׁךָ כָּתוּב לֵאמֹר, זֵכֶר עָשָׂה לְנִפְלְאֹתָיו, חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם יְהֹוָה:

‘Uvedivrei kodshecha kosuv leimor Zecher osoh lenifleosov chanun verachum Hashem’

‘And in Your holy writings the following is written:He made a memorial for His wonders, compassionate and merciful is Hashem.’

Even though we are a low, we have a shaychus to much higher things on yomim tovim – or through a zikaron of what happened in the past or through being connected with what will happen in the Time To Come.

וְנֶאֱמַר, טֶרֶף נָתַן לִירֵאָיו, יִזְכֹּר לְעוֹלָם בְּרִיתוֹ:

‘Veneemar Teref nosan lireav’

‘He sustained those who fear Him.’

This importance gives us the opportunity to be sustained.

ְןנֶאֱמַר, וַיִּזְכֹּר לָהֶם בְּרִיתוֹ, וַיִּנָּחֵם כְּרֹב חֲסָדָיו:

‘Veneemar vayizkor lohem briso vayinochem kerov chasodov’

‘He remembered His covenant for them and relented according to His great kindness.’

This importance will be a basis for change (vayinochem kerov chadov).

וְעַל יְדֵי עֲבָדֶיךָ הַנְּבִיאִים כָּתוּב לֵאמֹר, הָלוֹךְ וְקָרָאתָ בְאָזְנֵי יְרוּשָׁלַיִם לֵאמֹר, כֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה זָכַרְתִּי לָךְ חֶסֶד נְעוּרַיִךְ, אַהֲבַת כְּלוּלוֹתָיִךְ, לֶכְתֵּךְ אַחֲרַי בַּמִּדְבָּר, בְּאֶרֶץ לֹא זְרוּעָה:

‘Veal ydei avodecha haneviim kosuv leimor holoch vekoroso beoznei yerushalayim leimor ko omar hashem zocharti loch chesed neurayich ahavas klulosayich lechtech acarai bamidbor beeretz lo zruah’

‘And through Your prophets the following is written:Go and proclaim in the ears of Yerushalayim saying ‘so said Hashem :I remember for your sake the kindness of your youth, the love of your bridal days, how you followed Me in the wilderness in an unsown land’

When Yirmayahu came to tell Yisroel that they were about to be thrown out of Yerushalayim they were not interested in hearing him anymore so Yirmiyahu had to scream into their ears so that they would listen. He told them that Hashem remembers what they did when they ‘lechtech acharai bamidbar’ (this will only be revealed in leosid lovo). This time the possuk says that klal Yisroel are not just important because Hashem is important. Rather, we are important in our own right because of what we did.

וְנֶאֱמַר, וְזָכַרְתִּי אֲנִי אֶת בְּרִיתִי אוֹתָךְ בִּימֵי נְעוּרָיִךְ, וַהֲקִימוֹתִי לָךְ בְּרִית עוֹלָם:

: ‘Veneemar vezocharti ani es brisi osoch biymei neuraich vahakimosi loch bris olam’

‘But I will remember My covenant with you of the days of your youth and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant’

Like we said earlier, that our chashivus will create a new reality.

וְנֶאֱמַר הֲבֵן יַקִּיר לִי אֶפְרַיִם, אִם יֶלֶד שַׁעֲשׁוּעִים, כִּי מִדֵּי דַבְּרִי בּוֹ זָכוֹר אֶזְכְּרֶנּוּ עוֹד, עַל כֵּן הָמוּ מֵעַי לוֹ, רַחֵם אֲרַחֲמֶנּוּ נְאֻם יְהֹוָה

‘Haben yakir li Efraim im yeled shashuim ki midei dabri bo ezkerenu od al kein homu meai lo rachem arachamenu neum Hashem’

‘My most precious son or a delightful child, that whenever I speak of him I remember him more and more.’

You need to read this as a question – is he only precious to me because he is a yeled shashuim like that leosid lovo that Hashem will have shashuim with the tzaddikim? No, says Hashem, he is much more – his chashivus will be bigger and bigger – zochor ezkerenu od.

אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, זָכְרֵנוּ בְּזִכָּרוֹן טוֹב לְפָנֶיךָ, וּפָקְדֵנוּ בִּפְקֻדַּת יְשׁוּעָה וְרַחֲמִים מִשְּׁמֵי שְׁמֵי קֶדֶם,:

‘Elokeinu velokei avoseinu zochreinu bezikaron tov lefonecha ufokdeinu bifkudas yeshuah verachamim mishmei shmei kedem’.

‘Our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers remember us with a favourable rememberance before You, recall us with a recollection of salvation and mercy from the primeval, loftiest heavens.’

We ask Hashem to reveal our importance.

וּזְכָר לָנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֶת הַבְּרִית וְאֶת הַחֶסֶד וְאֶת הַשְּׁבוּעָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ בְּהַר הַמֹּרִיָּה. וְתֵרָאֶה לְפָנֶיךָ עֲקֵדָה שֶׁעָקַד אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ אֶת יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וְכָבַשׁ רַחֲמָיו לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְךָ בְּלֵבָב שָׁלֵם, כֵּן יִכְבְּשׁוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ אֶת כַּעַסְךָ מֵעָלֵינוּ, וּבְטוּבְךָ הַגָּדוֹל יָשׁוּב חֲרוֹן אַפְּךָ מֵעַמְּךָ וּמֵעִירְךָ וּמֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִנַּחֲלָתֶךָ. וְקַיֶּם לָנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֶת הַדָּבָר שֶׁהִבְטַחְתָּנוּ בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה עַבְדֶּךָ מִפִּי כְבוֹדֶךָ כָּאָמוּר:

‘Uzechor lonu hashem elokeinu es habris vees hachessed vees hashevuah asher nishbata leavrohom ovinu behar hamoriah veseroeh lefonecha akeidah sheokad Avrohom ovinu es Yitzchak beno al gabei hamizbeach vechovash rachamov laasos retsoncha belevav sholem. Kein yichbeshu rachamecha es kaascha meoleinu’

‘Remember for us, Hashem our G-d, the covenant, the kindness and the oath that You swore to our father Avrohom on Har Hamoriah. Let there appear before You the Akeidah when Avrohom, our father, bound Yitzchak, his son on the mizbeach and he suppressed his compassion to do Your will wholeheartedly. So may Your mercy suppress Your anger from upon us’

Avraham avinu was the amud hachessed. It went against all his nature to come to shecht his son, Yitzchak. Nevertheless, he did so with a happiness because it was important. The importance of klal Yisroel and our deeds was created then at the akeidah. Just like that Avraham rose up above his nature so too klal Yisroel and Hashem are above all natural forces in the world.

Just like Avrohom overcame his nature so too we ask Hashem to reveal that our importance is more than what naturally should happen.

וְזָכַרְתִּי לָהֶם בְּרִית רִאשֹׁנִים אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לְעֵינֵי הַגּוֹיִם לִהְיוֹת לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִים, אֲנִי יְהֹוָה:

‘Vezocharti lohem bris rishonim asher hotzesi osom meeretz mitzrayim leeynei hagoyim lihyos lohem lelokim ani Hashem’

‘And I shall remember for them the covenant of the early ones, whom I have taken out of the land of Egypt before the eyes of the nations, to be their G-d, I am Hashem’.

This importance that was once will be revealed again.

כִּי זוֹכֵר כָּל הַנִּשְׁכָּחוֹת אַתָּה הוּא מֵעוֹלָם, וְאֵין שִׁכְחָה לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא כְבוֹדֶךָ, וַעֲקֵדַת יִצְחָק, לְזַרְעוֹ (שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב) הַיּוֹם בְּרַחֲמִים תִּזְכֹּר. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, זוֹכֵר הַבְּרִית

‘Ki zocher kol hanishkochos atah hu meolam vein shichecha lifnei chisei chevodecha vaakeidas Yitzchak lezaro hayom berachamim tizkor Baruch atoh hashem zocher habris’

‘For it is you Who remembers everything that was forgotten and there is no forgetfulness before Your throne of Glory and may you mercifully remember today the akeidah of Yitzchak for the sake of his offspring. Blessed are You Hashem Who remembers the bris.’

Hashem remembers everything because everything is important.

Like we said at the beginning, zichronos is not about being scared since we cannot escape from the remembering eye of Hashem. Rather, we want to stand in this that I and the whole of klal Yisroel is important to Hashem.

We must let the tefillah flow. There is a natural flow as something very special in the tefillah reveals itself as we go along.

SHOFOROS – the revelation of hashem to us

Malchuyos is our connection with Hashem. Zichronos is our importance to Him. Whereas Shoforos is His revelation to us.

אַתָּה נִגְלֵיתָ בַּעֲנַן כְּבוֹדֶךָ עַל עַם קָדְשְׁךָ לְדַבֵּר עִמָּם.

‘Atah nigleisah baanan kevodecha al am kodshecha ledaber imom’

‘You were revealed in Your cloud of glory to Your holy people to speak with them.’

At matan Torah Hashem revealed Himself to us.

מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם הִשְׁמַעְתָּם קוֹלֶךָ, וְנִגְלֵיתָ עֲלֵיהֶם בְּעַרְפְּלֵּי טֹהַר. גַּם כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ חָל מִפָּנֶיךָ, וּבְרִיּוֹת בְּרֵאשִׁית חָרְדוּ מִמֶּךָּ, בְּהִגָּלוֹתְךָ מַלְכֵּנוּ עַל הַר סִינַי: לְלַמֵּד לְעַמְּךָ תּוֹרָה וּמִצְווֹת.

 ‘Behigoloscha malkeinu al har sinai lelamed leamcha torah umitzvos’

‘(The entire universe shuddered before You and the creatures of creation trembled before You) during Your revelation, our King on Har Sinai to teach Your people Torah and Mitzvos.’

This revelation from Hashem to us is through Torah and Mitzvos.

וַתַּשְׁמִיעֵם אֶת הוֹד קוֹלֶךָ, וְדִבְּרוֹת קָדְשְׁךָ מִלַּהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ. בְּקוֹלוֹת וּבְרָקִים עֲלֵיהֶם נִגְלֵיתָ, וּבְקוֹל שׁוֹפָר עֲלֵיהֶם הוֹפָעְתָּ.

כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ, וַיְהִי בַיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי בִּהְיוֹת הַבֹּקֶר, וַיְהִי קוֹלוֹת וּבְרָקִים וְעָנָן כָּבֵד עַל הָהָר, וְקוֹל שׁוֹפָר חָזָק מְאֹד, וַיֶּחֱרַד כָּל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר בַּמַּחֲנֶה:

‘Kakosuv besorosecha vayehi bayom hashlishi bihyos haboker vayehi kolos uverokim veonon koved al hohor vekol shofar chozok meod’

‘As it is written in your Torah: And it was on the third day when it was morning, there was thunder and lightning, a heavenly cloud was on the mountain and the sound of the shofar was very strong’

The shofar was there before He spoke to us.

וְנֶאֱמַר, וַיְהִי קוֹל הַשּׁוֹפָר הוֹלֵךְ וְחָזֵק מְאֹד, משֶׁה יְדַבֵּר וְהָאֱלֹהִים יַעֲנֶנּוּ בְקוֹל:

‘Veneemar vayehi kol hashofar holech vechozek meod moshe yedaber vehoelokim yaanenu bekol’

‘And the sound of the shofar became increasingly stronger, Moshe would speak and Hashem responded with a voice.’

The shofar was there when Hashem was speaking to us.

וְנֶאֱמַר, וְכָל הָעָם רוֹאִים אֶת הַקּוֹלוֹת, וְאֶת הַלַּפִּידִם, וְאֵת קוֹל הַשּׁוֹפָר וְאֶת הָהָר עָשֵׁן, וַיַּרְא הָעָם וַיָּנֻעוּ וַיַּעַמְדוּ מֵרָחֹק

‘Veneemar vechol hoom roim es hakolos vees halapidim vees kol hashofar vees hohor oshen vayar hoom vayonuu vayamdu merochok’

‘And the entire people saw the sounds and the flames and the sound of the shofar and the smoking mountain and the people saw and trembled and they stood from afar’.

Hashem came to us. This was scary. The scariness was nothing to do with anything that we had done. It was simply scary just because of the fact that Hashem came to us.

וּבְדִבְרֵי קָדְשְׁךָ כָּתוּב לֵאמֹר, עָלָה אֱלֹהִים בִּתְרוּעָה, יְהֹוָה בְּקוֹל שׁוֹפָר:

: ‘Uvedivrei kodshecha kosuv lemor oloh elokim bisruah hashem bekol shofar’

‘G-d has ascended with a blast, Hashem, with the sound of the shofar.’

The shofar that we are blowing in this world is not the shofar godol that He has. But, it is changing the approach of Hashem to this world. When we blow the shofar Hashem stands from kisei din and sits on kisei rachamim. His standing up denotes that He is going higher and then sitting on the kisei rachamim which is at this new height. This brings rachamim from things such as the 13 midos rachamim which are from very high and deep places. This is because the shofar brings revelations from very high places.

וְנֶאֱמַר, בַּחֲצוֹצְרוֹת וְקוֹל שׁוֹפָר, הָרִיעוּ לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ יְהֹוָה:

 ‘Veneemar bachatsotseros vekol shofar horiu lifnei hamelech Hashem’

‘With trumpets and shofar sound, call out before the King, Hashem.’

When Hashem comes we need to blow the shofar.

וְנֶאֱמַר תִּקְעוּ בַחֹדֶשׁ שׁוֹפָר בַּכֶּסֶה לְיוֹם חַגֵּנוּ:
כִּי חוֹק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא מִשְׁפָּט לֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב:

‘Veneemar tiku bachodesh shofar bakese leyom chageinu ki chok leyisroel hu mishpot lelokei yaakov’

‘Blow the shofar at the moon’s renewal, at the time appointed for our festive day. Because it is a decree for Israel, a judgement day for the G-d of Yaakov’.

On Rosh Hashonah we need to do this because we need to make sure that the revelation is correct.

וְנֶאֱמַר הַלְלוּיָהּ הַלְלוּ אֵל בְּקָדְשׁוֹ, הַלְלוּהוּ בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ: הַלְלוּהוּ בִּגְבוּרוֹתָיו, הַלְלוּהוּ כְּרוֹב גֻּדְלוֹ: הַלְלוּהוּ בְּתֵקַע שׁוֹפָר, הַלְלוּהוּ בְּנֵבֶל וְכִנּוֹר: הַלְלוּהוּ בְּתֹף וּמָחוֹל, הַלְלוּהוּ בְּמִנִּים וְעֻגָּב: הַלְלוּהוּ בְּצִלְצְלֵי שָׁמַע, הַלְלוּהוּ בְּצִלְצְלֵי תְרוּעָה: כֹּל הַנְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ, הַלְלוּיָהּ:

‘Veneemar hallelukah hallelu kel bekodsho-kol haneshama tehallel koh hallelukah’

‘Praise Hashem in His Mikdash.Praise Him in the firmament of His power…Let all neshamos praise Hashem, hallelukah’.

All these possukim are not from the 10 possukim. If so, why are they said at all? Because the revelation of Hashem cannot be seen when we look around. It is not in the tangible reality. Where is the revelation happening? In our neshamah. It may not be tangible but it is here in our neshamah.

וְעַל יְדֵי עֲבָדֶיךָ הַנְּבִיאִים כָּתוּב לֵאמֹר, כָּל ישְׁבֵי תֵבֵל וְשֹׁכְנֵי אָרֶץ, כִּנְשׂא נֵס הָרִים תִּרְאוּ וְכִתְקוֹעַ שׁוֹפָר תִּשְׁמָעוּ:

‘Veal ydei avodecha haneviim kosuv lemor kol yoshvei sevel veshochnei oretz kins ones horim tiru vechiskoa shofar sishmou’

‘All inhabitants of the world and dwellers of the earth-you shall see that the Jews have been ingathered as if a banner were raised on mountaintops and you shall hear it as if a shofar were sounded.’

The whole world will see and hear that Hashem is revealed.

וְנֶאֱמַר, וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִתָּקַע בְּשׁוֹפָר גָּדוֹל, וּבָאוּ הָאֹבְדִים בְּאֶרֶץ אַשּׁוּר, וְהַנִּדָּחִים בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם, וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַיהֹוָה בְּהַר הַקֹּדֶשׁ בִּירוּשָׁלִָם:

‘’Veneemar vehoyoh bayom hahu yitokah beshofar godol uvou hoovdim beeretz Ashur vehanidochim beeretz mitzrayim vehishtachavu lahashem behar hakodesh biyerusholayim’

‘And it will be on that day that a great shofar will be blown and then will come those lost in the land of Assyria and those cast away in the land of Egypt and they shall bow to Hashem on the holy mountain in Jerusalem’.

This touches an emotion within me. This possuk means that those Jews who forgot a long time ago that they were Jewish – when they hear the shofar godol they will realize that they are Jewish. Like the rishonim tell us that there will even be kohanim kesherim who forgot that they were Jewish and they are still kosher- meaning that they married kesherim (no divorcees etc.). They and I will come to the Beis Hamikdash. When I get to the Azarah they will stop me from going further. Whereas this kohen kosher who only just realized that he was Jewish will be told to go on further!

וְנֶאֱמַר, וַיהֹוָה עֲלֵיהֶם יֵרָאֶה, וְיָצָא כַבָּרָק חִצּוֹ, וַאדֹנָי יֱהֹוִה בַּשּׁוֹפָר יִתְקָע, וְהָלַךְ בְּסַעֲרוֹת תֵּימָן:

‘Veneemar vahashem aleyhem yeroeh… vahashem elokim bashofar yisko veholach besaaros teiman’

‘And Hashem will appear to them and His arrow will go forth like a flash of lightning and Hashem will sound the shofar and shall go southward with storm-winds’.

Hashem will take His own shofar and blow it.

יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת יָגֵן עֲלֵיהֶם, כֵּן תָּגֵן עַל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּשְׁלוֹמֶךָ:

‘Hashem tzevokos yogen aleyhem ken togen al amcho Yisroel bishlomechah’

‘Hashem will shield them. So may You shield Your people Israel with Your peace.’

We will need to be guarded by Hashem.

אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, תְּקַע בְּשׁוֹפָר גָּדוֹל לְחֵרוּתֵנוּ, וְשָׂא נֵס לְקַבֵּץ גָּלִיּוֹתֵינוּ, וְקָרֵב פְּזוּרֵינוּ מִבֵּין הַגּוֹיִם, וּנְפוּצוֹתֵינוּ כַּנֵּס מִיַּרְכְּתֵי אָרֶץ.:

‘Elokeinu velokei avosenu tekah beshofar godol lecheruseinu veso nes lekabetz goluyoseinu vekorev pzureinu mibein hagoyim….’

‘Our G-d, sound the great shofar for our freedom, raise the banner to gather our exiles. Draw our scattered ones near from among the nations…’

Even those people who forgot they were Jewish will also come.

וַהֲבִיאֵנוּ לְצִיּוֹן עִירְךָ בְּרִנָּה וְלִירוּשָׁלַיִם בֵּית מִקְדָּשְׁךָ בְּשִׂמְחַת עוֹלָם, וְשָׁם נַעֲשֶׂה לְפָנֶיךָ אֶת קָרְבְּנוֹת חוֹבוֹתֵינוּ, כִּמְצֻוָּה עָלֵינוּ בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ, עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה עַבְדֶּךָ מִפִּי כְבוֹדֶךָ, כָּאָמוּר:

‘Veliyerushalayim beis mikdoshecha besimchas olam veshom naaseh lefonecha es korbonos chovoseinu…’

‘And to Jerusalem, home of your sanctuary, in eternal joy.  There we will perform before You our obligatory offerings…’

We will do our avodah.

וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַתְכֶם וּבְמוֹעֲדֵיכֶם וּבְרָאשֵׁי חָדְשֵׁיכֶם, וּתְקַעְתֶּם בַּחֲצוֹצְרוֹת עַל עוֹלוֹתֵיכֶם וְעַל זִבְחֵי שַׁלְמֵיכֶם, וְהָיוּ לָכֶם לְזִכָּרוֹן לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, אֲנִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם: כִּי אַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ קוֹל שׁוֹפָר, וּמַאֲזִין תְּרוּעָה וְאֵין דּוֹמֶה לָּךְ:

‘Uveyom simchaschem uvemoadeichem uveroshei chodsheichem usekatem bachazozros al oloseichem veal zivchei shalmeichem vehoyu lochem lezikaron lifnei elokeichem ani hashem elokeichem’

‘And on the day of your gladness, on your festivals, and on your new moons you are to sound the trumpets over your elevation offerings, and over your peace offerings; and they shall be a remembrance for you before your G-d; I am Hashem, Your G-d.’

This final possuk wraps up everything and it includes shoforos, zichronos and malchuyos.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, שׁוֹמֵעַ קוֹל תְּרוּעַת עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּרַחֲמִים

‘Baruch atoh hashem shomea kol truas amo Yisroel berachamim’

‘Blessed are You, Hashem, Who hears the shofar- sound of His people Israel with mercy.’

Our shofar should evoke the great rachamim from Hashem and this is what we need on Rosh Hashonoh.

~  ~  ~

This is the mussaf of Rosh Hashonah. It is scary in the sense of how big it is. But it’s not scary in the sense that Hashem is coming to check up on us. We do not need to be nervous. This is not what it’s about. Hashem is just checking how much we are connected to Him (malchuyos). Also, we are important (zichronos). Also, Hashem will reveal Himself to us (Shoforos).

We have an influence on how Hashem reveals himself to us on Rosh Hashonah. We hope that He will reveal Himself to us for the whole year in a good way.

It’s simple what we need to do for our shemoneh esrei. We need to write in our machzorim where the new topics begin. It’s not a matter of having kavanah on every single world. We just need to know the topics and then it will flow. But don’t be afraid when it flows.

I do not think that this Rosh Hashonah we need to build on the fear that built up this last year. Rather we need to focus on the connection between us and Hashem.