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Holy Days |
| Holy Days Archives | MAKING HIM KING What is the essential aspect of Rosh HaShannah? The coronation of G-d as King. Thus our Sages quote G-d as asking: "Say before Me.. verses reflecting My Kingship to make Me King over you." Until we have accepted G-d as King, serving Him through the observance of mitzvos is not relevant. And so our Sages quote G-d as saying: "Accept My Kingship,and afterwards accept My decrees." Therefore teshuvah, which serves to atone for failures in fulfilling the King's decrees, is relevant only after His Kingship is accepted. Our acceptance of G-d as King relates to His essence - a level above all revelations. The observance of the mitzvos relates to G-d's will as it has come into revelation, for all the mitzvos are expressions of His will. Teshuvah, which atones for transgressions of His will, relates to a higher level of G-dliness, but one which still shares a connection to His will. For a level which totally transcends G-d's will must also transcend the service which repents for transgressions of that will. Thus teshuvah still relates to revealed levels of G-dliness. The acceptance of G-d as King, however, relates to G-d's essence, which transcends all revelations. From this, we can appreciate the uniqueness of the souls of the Jewish people - that they can affect G-d's very essence and evoke in Him a desire to be King. To be able to affect G-d's essence, however, it is necessary to express the inner bittul that lies at the center of every Jewish soul. This is expressed in our request of G-d: "Reign over the entire world in Your glory." …G-d's essence knows no bounds. Since the influence drawn down by the sounding of the shofar on Rosh HaShanah is rooted in G-d's essence, this influence is not restricted by any limitations of the spiritual cosmos. The influence is drawn down precisely as He desires it to be. And what He desires is certainly good, as it is written: "In the countenance of the King, there is life." Penai, translated here as "countenance," also means "inner dimension." Thus any desire emanating from G-d's inner dimension will surely be associated with life and goodness. This will be revealed on the material plane, for G-d's essence is connected to our material reality. And so it is that every Jew will be inscribed for a good and sweet year, filled with open and apparent blessings. (Adapted from Sichos Rosh HaShanah and Sichos Simchas Beis HaShoevah, 5723) |
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Ascent of Safed
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