ROSH HASHANNAH 2025
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Rabbi Zvi Aviner
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Noahidesevencommandments.com
The best way to learn about Rosh Hahsanah is to open the prayer book written for the holiday and read it. Here I’ve selected three key prayers for you. Let’s read them and analyze what they say .
- A chant after blowing the shofar – horn
Soon after blowing the shofar the entire congregation sings – still standing in awe – the following song:
Today is the birthday the world,
Today He will place in JUDGMENT
all the creatures of the worlds
Whether as His Children or as His Slaves
If as a Children, have mercy on us
As a father has mercy on his children
If as salves, our eyes are lifted to you
Till you pardon us , Oh awesome and holy…
Blowing the Shofar
It is the only Commandment of the Torah for the holiday. It comes without explanation. It says that on the first day of the seventh month we should blow two silver trumpets and one horn. The Torah calls the month “the seventh” since she uses her new yearly calendar where the year starts at Passover (the month of Nissan). The regular agricultural year starts six months later at the month of Tishri where the fist day is Rosh Hahsanah, the New Year high holiday/
Let’s analyze the chanting after the shofar blowing.
Today is the birthday the world,
In fact, to be more precise, Rosh Hashanah (RH) is the birthday of Adam, rather than the worlds. Adam, as you recall, was made on the Sixth Day of CREATION, just before the Sabbath.
Let’s also recall that a Day of CREATION is not our day. It is a phase in CREATION, a Floor in a Six Floors building called Nature. It lasted a long time, billions of human years. Mankind appeared On the Sixth Floor, as the world is moving towards the Seventh Day – the Eternal Sabbath.
Today He places in JUDGMENT…
If today is Adam’s birthday, what does judgment has to do with it? Why not throwing a birthday party with balloons and a birthday cake?
The answer is – it was ELHM (rather than “G-d”) who created Adam, and ELHM in Hebrew stands for a Mighty JUDGE.
Who says so? Is it my weird interpretation?
Rashi says so. In the Ten Commandments it says: “And ELHM spoke the following words…on which Rashi says : “Wherever the name ELHM appears in the text, it refers to the JUDGE.” In other site he says that YHVH refers to the Attribute of MERCY.
And Rashi represents the Talmud and Orthodox Judaism.
A point – until two hundred years ago, all Jews were “orthodox”. The progressive secularization of society in general has brought up movements like “Conservative Judaism” and “Reform Judaism” that in fact stopped learning the Talmud and rejected much of the basic tenants of classical Judaism. Hence you maty encounter “Rabbis” or even “scholars” who are completely oblivious to the meaning of ELHM.
That is why the Rev. Vendyl Jones blessed his memory used to say that Noahites should be careful to follow only the teaching of Orthodox Judaism b/c it is the only true way to know the Torah.
Thus, it was the Infinite CREATOR sitting on the Throne of Justice who made the entire Six Days, including Aadam, for Judgment. It is appropriate to celebrate that point while celebrating Adam birthday.
One may ask, what about Love? Why not saying He created us with unconditional love?
Of course, ELHM stands for Absolute Truth, not for Love. In fact, it is far more dignified to be seen as a mature, responsible creature standing in judgment, than as a baby who receives unconditional love.
So, despite the fact that we are merely “dust and ashes”, a collection of atoms and molecules living in a matrix that is only one in infinite alternative universes, the Torah tells us that this Universe, this matrix is built by the CREATOR- JUDGE for us to stand in judgment. We are here not by chance at random but rather for a purpose.
It also means that we are never alone. Someone writes down every action we do and every thought we harbor. And once a year, on the annual anniversary of Adam creation, those books are open and they read themselves to the Heavenly Court for our judgment, and our fate is thus decided for the next coming year.
Today He will place in JUDGMENT
all the creatures of the worlds
Wait! Isn’t this day the judgment day of Adam? Why does the song mention “all the creatures of the world” – from mosquitoes to fish to man?
The answer is’ again, in Genesis Ch. one. During the Six Days, the JUDGE ELHM passed a judgment on EACH DAY at the end of that Day. (apart from Day Two). If it was deemed in His eyes as “good” He would allow it to survive into the next Day. If not, He would eliminate it like an un- useful scaffold.
But at the end of our Sixth Day of CREARTION, where we live, the verse says that “ELHM saw everything that He had made, and it was very good.” Hence at the end of times, the end of the Six Days, ELHM will pass a COMPREHENSIVE JJDGMENT on all CREATION, on all the CREATURES OF THE WOLRD.
Adam, therefore, is made to move in history to become Very Good and enter the Sabbath – with all the creatures of the world.
But the song says that such a comprehensive judgment is being passed TODAY! Hnece, the Heavenly Court is not waiting for the end of times. Every year, on Adam birthday, it convenes to see where the world is standing in that journey. Since in fact it is only Adam who can elevate CREATION in ELHM’s eyes to be seen as Very Good, this comprehensive judgment is mainly upon us, Mankind.
Whether as His Children or as His Slaves
According to the Torah, every human being is a son or a daughter of G-d. (Not just a single one.)
The concept of a “slave of Hashem” was introduced by Abraham, who regarded the CREATOR as an “artist who owns his art.” The CREATOR, he said, has “purchased the Heavens and the Earth.”
Hence the CREATOR is AaDoNai, My Master, My Owner. My whole life is subjected to His Commandments. The Children of Abraham are surrounded by 613 Commandments, while the Children of Adam or Noah are obliged by Seven.
Thus, on Rosh Hahsanah the Court assesses us on the ground of the Commandments. They were given to Mankind as a guidance of becoming Very Good.
2
Kingship
Let’s read together another theme of the holiday taken from the prayer book. In the Amidah section we chant-
Our G-d and the God of our fathers
Reign over the entire world in your glory
Be exalted over all earth in your splendor
And reveal yourself in the majesty of
our glorious might over all the habitants of your
terrestrial world.
May everything that has been made
know that you have made it
Everything that you have formed understan
d that you have formed it
Everything that has a breath of life in his nostrils
declare that Hashem the God of Israel is a KING
and his kingship has dominion over all
Here we “enthrone” G-d over CREATION and pray that all Mankind will accept His Kingship and His Commandments.
Kingship is the opposite of JUDGMENT. We stand in ELHM’s judgment whether we believe in it or not, On the other hand, the acceptance of His Kingship on us is strictly discretional. It depends solely on our Free Will.
How is this idea connected to Adam creation? Why should we mention it on our species’ birthday?
It comes from Chapter One. The CREATOR became a KING – to make us. How?
Prior to the making of Adam, during the Six Days, ELHM acted as Sole Ruler, giving orders, asking no one’s consent, inviting no one to participate, ruling by the strong upper hand. He gives life, and He may take life away with absolute justice with no mercy. He ruled the world “awesomely alone.”
But as Rashi says in the first verse of Chapter One, all that mode of ruling had to change before making Adam, a creature with a Free Will. Adam could not live long under such a harsh scrutiny and under the upper hand of ELHM. Hence, says Rashi, ELHM “descended” from His High Pedestal as a supreme, Absolute Judge and spoke for the first time in the plural saying: “Let Us Make an Adam in Our Form and Our Image.” Instead of issuing another command such as “Let there Be Adam!” He invited other entities to participate, among them the Attribute of Mercy, YHVH. (says Rashi,)
Thus before making Adam, ELHM descended from Tyranny to become a King Who Consults, a “democratic king.” The scholars say that the very word for a king in Hebrew, Melech, comes from nimlach, consulted with it is a “royal plural,” like “we, the King of England.” Here the king of England declares that he is not a tyrant, that he has a wise council, that he is open to discussions and debates. In the story of Adam, the message is the same – ELHM relinquished His sole absolute power to allow other opinions to be heard, including the voice of Adam. Without that change in ELHM’s ruling, Adam would not survive.
Indeed, speaking in the plural, has opened the door
for idolaters to think there are more than One CREATOR (Rashi.) Hence Adam was born into the Trial of God’s Kingship and IDOLATRY.
No wonder then that on Rosh Hashanah we declare G-d as our KING, accepting His Commands, praying to see the end of IDOLATRY. We don’t pray on RH for the end of ADULTERY or BLOODSHED or THEFT, but specifically for the end of IDOLATRY.
Over the years various customs have been introduced to designate that point of G-d Kingship. We tend to go to fresh water spring to enthrone God, as it was dome to the Kings of David’s house.
And in the Temple time, we used to blow two silver trumps and a horn to designate G-d’s’ Kingship. Let’s read the following prayer said in the synagogues before blowing the horn.
3: Ascending
Psalm 47
O clap your hands, all ye people
Hail unto ELHM with the voice
of cheerful singing
2 For Hashem most high is awesome
he is a great King over all the earth.
5 ELHM has ascended with a blast of the trumpets
Hashem, (has ascended) with the sound of a shofar – horn.
6 Sing praises to ELHM sing praises
sing praises unto our King, sing praises
7 For ELHM is the King over all the earth:
sing ye praises with understanding.
8 ELHM reigns over the nations
ELHM sits upon the throne of his holiness.
9 The princes of the peoples are gathered,
Along with the people of the God of Abraham:
for the shields of the earth
belong unto God: He is greatly exalted.
This psalm is chanted in awe just before blowing the shofar. It is an awesome moment, with a sense of holiness engulfing the congregation.
O clap your hands, all ye people
Hail unto ELHM with the voice
of cheerful singing
We call all nations to join. The name of ELHM is repeated seven times to remind us of the Seven Commandments. Unlike Purim or Hanukah or Passover, which are “Israel’s holidays,” the RH is the only Torah’s ordained holiday that pertains to mankind, not only to Israel.
5 ELHM has ascended with a blast of the trumpets
YHVH (has ascended) with the sound of a shofar.
Where would ELHM ascend by the silver trumpets?
Where would YHVH ascend by the voice of the Shofar?
The answer is given, again, in the marvelous Genesis Ch. One.
Let’s recall that Adam was created when ELHM descended from His Tyranny to act as a King Who Consults. This way He formed the Heavenly Court of YHV-ELHM which rules our world. Such a court is more benevolent to us, more tolerate our sins than the previous Tyranny of ELHM ruling “awesomely alone.”
But at the end of the Sixth Day, the End of Time, ELHM will conduct the Comprehensive Judgment when He sit again on the Sole Throne of Judgment, as it was in the Beginning, as it says “And ELHM saw everything that He has done.”
No Mercy is mentioned in the verse describing the End of Days Judgment!
We need to draw Her back into the Heavenly Court – to defend us,
we need to open our heart for her, to ask Her forgiveness of our misbehavior, to repent our sins, to pledge that we would not repeat them..
In other words – we need to influence Her to agree to sit back on Her Throne of Mercy.
That “end of days” trial, says the Book off Zohar, is restaged every year on Rosh Hashanah. ELHM ascends on His Throne of Justice , whereas we ask the Merciful YHVH to ascend on Her Throne oof Mercy – by blowing the shofar and be repentance.
We are given ten precious days to repent and ask Her to sit on Her Throne and forgive us. The last of these Ten Days is Yom Kippur, when we commemorate the day that Moses descended the second time telling the people in the name of the Merciful YHVH – I have forgiven you.
Thus, every year the Heavenly Court sits in full power – like it will be at the End of Time, and assesses everyone of us, as well as our human species. A Book of Life opens up by itself and reads itself to the Court , spelling out everything we have done during the passing year. Nothing escapes the Court. Our fate for the coming year is at stake.
While ELHM ascends by Himself, heralded by the Silver Trumpets, it is up to us to convince the Merciful Attribute YHVH to do the same – to ascend on Her Throne of Mercy. The voice of the shofar is designed to break our heart, to instill in us a shame for being sinful – as it was in Eden – and to ask forgiveness.
The shofar voice calls us “Adam, where are you?” As it was after the primordial sin in Eden.
After Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Court “descends” back to be “The King Who Consults,” since we could not live long under the harsh scrutiny of ELHM as a “The Tyrant.” That stage would last during the year until next Rosh Hashanah, when the Court ascends again to gage where is Mankind in there journey to the future.
9 The princes of the peoples are gathered,
Along with the people of the God of Abraham:
How beautiful is this image of Mankind assembling in a great place to celebrate the holiday “along with the people of Abraham.”
Of course, you can’t gather all Mankind, but you can gather “the princes – delegations – of the seventy nations of Noah. Let’s pray that we’ll merit witnessing this in our time!!!