LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, Rosh HaShanah 5757 B"H LIVING WITH MOSHIACH Weekly Digest About Moshiach ROSH HASHANAH 5757 SPECIAL FEATURE: Your Rosh HaShanah Guide Tishrei 1-2, 5757 Sept. 13-15, 1996 * Published Weekly By Lubavitch Shluchim Conferences On The Moshiach Campaign, Committee For The Blind * * * 5756 ********************************************* * TO RECEIVE THIS PUBLICATION VIA INTERNET: * * E-Mail: yys@dorsai.org * * FOR CHABAD-LUBAVITCH IN CYBERSPACE: * * E-Mail: info@chabad.org * ********************************************* THIS PUBLICATION IS DEDICATED TO THE REBBE, RABBI MENACHEM M. SCHNEERSON OF LUBAVITCH "I BELIEVE WITH COMPLETE FAITH IN THE ARRIVAL OF THE MOSHIACH. AND THOUGH HE MAY TARRY, I SHALL WAIT EACH DAY, ANTICIPATING HIS ARRIVAL." Maimonides, Principles of the Faith, No. 12 ********************* * TABLE OF CONTENTS * ********************* Introduction Rosh HaShanah Message From The Rebbe The Rebbe's Prophecy Your Rosh HaShanah Guide Rosh HaShanah Observances Ten Days Of Teshuvah The Fast Of Gedaliah The Rosh HaShanah Calendar Candle Lighting Blessings The Balance Sheet The Shofar's Message **************** * INTRODUCTION * **************** We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the blind, our weekly publication, Living With Moshiach. * This week's issue focuses on the upcoming high holiday of Rosh HaShanah, which begins on Friday night, September 13. Therefore, we present here "Your Rosh HaShanah Guide," [*] and other related material about Rosh HaShanah. * Our sincere appreciation to L'Chaim weekly publication, published by the Lubavitch Youth Organization, for allowing us to use their material. Also, many thanks to our copy editor, Reb Mordechai Staiman, for his tireless efforts. * We take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very sweet, happy, healthy and successful new year. * It is our fervent hope that our learning about Moshiach and the Redemption will hasten the coming of Moshiach, NOW! Rabbi Yosef Y. Shagalov Administrator Committee for the Blind E-Mail: yys@dorsai.org 18 Elul, 5756 Brooklyn, New York ------------------ *. Published by Prestige Litho. DEDICATED TO THE REBBE, In Honor Of Our Daughter CHAYA SARAH on the occasion of her eighth birthday, 25 Elul **************************************** * ROSH HASHANAH MESSAGE FROM THE REBBE * **************************************** Dear Friend: The month of Tishrei is very colorful. Every possible atmosphere of Jewish life finds expression in this month, in which we have Solemn Days, Fast Days, and Days of Rejoicing. It is not a coincidence that the first month of the year has "samples" of every shade and color of Jewish life, for these "samples" are intended to give us an introduction to, and practical guidance for the rest of the year. By observing the special days of Tishrei in their proper spirit, we are initiated into a truly Jewish life, in accordance with the spirit of the Torah, during the whole year following. What can we learn from the special days of Tishrei? a. To begin with we have Rosh HaShanah, the beginning of the New Year, the day when the first man just created proclaimed G-d's sovereignty over the whole Universe. When we are about to begin anything, we must always remember that G-d is the Creator of Heaven and Earth and the sole Ruler of the Universe, and that our action or venture must have Divine approval. This is further emphasized by-- b. The Ten Days of Repentance, which remind us that since we are the servants of the King of the Universe we must keep a check on our deeds to ensure that they comply with the wishes of the Master. However, since we are only human beings, we are liable to fail on occasion. This is why G-d gives us-- c. Yom Kippur, to impress upon us the realization that it is never too late to turn back to the right path, provided we do it sincerely, completely repenting of, and casting away, our evil habits of the past, and solemnly undertaking to mend our ways in the future. If we make this firm resolution, G-d will forgive us, and "cleanse" us completely of our sins. Difficult though this path may appear to be-- d. Sukkot helps us not to despair in our days of trial, even if we find ourselves in the minority, for G-d is our protector, as He clearly showed us by the Clouds of Glory with which He surrounded us during the forty years' wandering through the desert after the Departure from Egypt. Finally, in order to know how to lead our lives so as to comply with G-d's wishes, we have-- e. Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, for in the Torah G-d has given us Divine laws of justice and righteousness and a true guide in life; by shaping our lives accordingly we are assured of true happiness, both in this world and in the after-life. For the Torah is a "tree of life to them that take fast hold of it, and its supporters are happy." These, briefly, are some of the main lessons of Tishrei and there can be no doubt that by following them faithfully, the New Year will be a happy one, both spiritually and materially, and the blessing that we give each other "L'Shana Tova Ticateiv V'Tichatem" will surely be fulfilled. That is what I wish every one of you. Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson ************************ * THE REBBE'S PROPHECY * ************************ The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of Lubavitch, issued a call that "THE TIME OF OUR REDEMPTION HAS ARRIVED!" and "MOSHIACH IS ON HIS WAY!" The Rebbe stressed that he is saying this AS A PROPHECY, and asks us all to prepare ourselves for the Redemption, through increasing acts of goodness and kindness. LET US ALL HEED THE REBBE'S CALL. ********************************************* * IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR GRANDPARENTS, * * * * Reb Shmuel Pesach Ben Reb Yaakov Dovid * * On the occasion of his second yahrtzeit, * * 3 Tishrei, 5755 * * * * Mrs. Fraidel Chedvah Bas Reb Zev Wolf * * Passed away on 4 Adar II, 5755 * * Pais * ********************************************* ********************************************* * YOUR ROSH HASHANAH GUIDE * * Tishrei 1-2, 5757 * Sept. 13-15, 1996 * ********************************************* ************************** * WHAT IS ROSH HASHANAH? * ************************** Birthday of the World Rosh HaShanah is the day on which G-d completed the creation of this world, by creating Adam, the original man. Adam's very first act was to proclaim the Al-mighty as King of the Universe. He called upon all creatures: "Come, let us worship, bow down, and kneel before G-d, our maker." Each Rosh HaShanah, we too proclaim the Kingship of G-d, and reaffirm our commitment to serve Him well. Just as on the original Rosh HaShanah, G-d created the world for the first time, so each Rosh HaShanah He reconsiders and re-evaluates the quality of our relationship with Him, and creates our world anew. The Book of Life On the first evening of Rosh HaShanah, after services, we exchange the traditional blessing, "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." Our sages explain that on Rosh HaShanah, we all stand in judgment before G-d "like a flock of sheep before the shepherd." If we are worthy, we are inscribed in the Book of Life. Ten days later, on Yom Kippur, the Book is sealed. Through repentance, prayer, and charity, we can sweeten the decree, and merit G-d's blessings for health, well-being, and prosperity for the coming year. ***************************** * ROSH HASHANAH OBSERVANCES * ***************************** The Shofar This year, on the second day of Rosh HaShanah, Sunday, Sept. 15, we hear during the daytime the sounding of at least the first thirty of the prescribed blasts of the shofar, the ram's horn. The shofar, the oldest and most soulful of wind instruments, has many meanings. Among them: * It proclaims the coronation of G-d as King of the Universe. * It "awakens" us to repent and return to G-d. * It reminds us of the shofar heard at Mount Sinai, when we accepted G-d's commandments for all time. * It represents the simple, primal outcry from the depth of the soul. * It presages the call of the Great Shofar which G-d will sound with the coming of Moshiach, who will lead us out of exile and into our Holy Land--speedily, in our days. * Call your local synagogue, or Chabad-Lubavitch Center for the approximate time of the shofar service. For a listing of the Centers in your area, call: 1-800-Lubavitch (1-800-582-2848). Tashlich This year, on the second day of Rosh HaShanah, Sunday, Sept. 15, following the afternoon prayer, we visit a body of water or pond containing live fish and recite the Tashlich prayers, in which we "cast away" our sins. As fish depend upon water, so do we depend upon G-d's providence. Also, a fish's eyes never close, symbolizing G-d's unceasing watchfulness over us. Special Rosh Hashanah Foods It is customary on Rosh HaShanah to eat foods symbolizing sweetness, blessings, and abundance. We dip the challah in honey; and afterwards, on the first night, Friday Evening, Sept. 13, we eat a piece of apple dipped in honey. After the appropriate blessing on the apple, we add: "May it be Your will to renew for us a good and sweet year." Other customs include eating the head of a fish, pomegranates and carrots. ************************ * TEN DAYS OF TESHUVAH * ************************ A Return to Essence The first ten days of Tishrei--two days of Rosh HaShanah, the seven days following, and Yom Kippur--are an auspicious time in which to rectify our shortcomings and draw closer to G-d. They are therefore known as the "Ten days of Teshuvah." Teshuvah [**] --frequently translated as repentance--actually means returning. Judaism emphasizes that our essential nature --the divine spark of the soul--is good. True repentance is best achieved not through harsh self-condemnation, but through the realization that our deepest desire is to do good, in accordance with the will of G-d. --------------- **. See Living With Moshiach, Vol. 42. ************************ * THE FAST OF GEDALIAH * ************************ Monday, Sept. 16, is a fast day. We neither eat nor drink, from approximately 72 minutes before sunrise until 40 minutes after sunset. It commemorates the tragic assassination of Gedaliah, a great Jewish leader during the Babylonian exile. ****************************** * THE ROSH HASHANAH CALENDAR * * 5757/1996 * ****************************** >>>> Times Shown Are for Metro NY - NJ <<<< ** JEWISH WOMEN AND GIRLS LIGHT SHABBAT AND HIGH HOLIDAY CANDLES ** * For local candle lighting times, consult your local Rabbi, Chabad-Lubavitch Center, or call: (718) 774-3000. * For a free candle lighting kit, contact your local Chabad-Lubavitch Center. * For a listing of the Centers in your area, call: 1-800-Lubavitch (1-800-582-2848). FRIDAY, SEPT. 13, EREV ROSH HASHANAH: * Light Shabbat & Rosh HaShanah candles, [1] by 6:50 p.m. Say blessings #1 & 3. * Eat special Rosh Hashanah foods. SATURDAY, SEPT. 14, ROSH HASHANAH: * Light Rosh Hashanah candles, [2] AFTER NIGHTFALL, AFTER 7:49 p.m. Say blessings #2 & 3. SUNDAY, SEPT. 15, ROSH HASHANAH: * Sounding of Shofar. * Tashlich prayers. * Rosh HaShanah ends at 7:47 p.m. MONDAY, SEPT. 16, FAST OF GEDALIAH: * Fast ends at 7:43 p.m. --------------- 1. DO NOT LIGHT *AFTER* SUNSET. The Shabbat and Rosh HaShanah candles must be lit 18 minutes *BEFORE* sunset. IT IS PROHIBITED AND IS A DESECRATION OF THE SHABBAT TO LIGHT THE CANDLES *AFTER* SUNSET. 2. Do not light BEFORE the times indicated. Light only from a preexisting flame. A preexisting flame is a flame burning continuously since the onset of Shabbat, such as a pilot light, gas or candle flame. ***************************** * CANDLE LIGHTING BLESSINGS * ***************************** After Lighting the Candles, Recite: #1. BO-RUCH A-TOH ADO-NOI E-LO-HEI-NU ME-LECH HO-OLOM A-SHER KI-DE-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-SOV VE-TZI-VO-NU LE-HAD-LIK NER SHEL SHA-BOS V-SHEL YOM HA-ZI-KO-RON. Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of Shabbat and the Day of Remembrance. #2. BO-RUCH A-TOH ADO-NOI E-LO-HEI-NU ME-LECH HO-OLOM A-SHER KI-DE-SHO-NU BE-MITZ-VO-SOV VE-TZI-VO-NU LE-HAD-LIK NER SHEL YOM HA-ZI-KO-RON. Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the Day of Remembrance. #3. BO-RUCH A-TOH ADO-NOI E-LO-HEI-NU ME-LECH HO-OLOM SHE-HECHE-YO-NU VE-KI-YI-MO-NU VE-HIGI-O-NU LIZ-MAN HA-ZEH. Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion. ************************************** * THE BALANCE SHEET * * Adapted from a Letter of the Rebbe * ************************************** 25 Elul, 5719/1959 These days at the end of the outgoing year, and on the eve of the New Year, may it bring blessings to us all, call for self-evaluation in respect to the year about to end, and--in the light of this self-appraisal--for making the necessary resolutions for the coming year. Such a "balance sheet" can be valid only if the evaluation of the full extent of one's powers and opportunities was a correct one. Only then can one truly regret, in a commensurate degree, the missed opportunities, and resolve to utilize one's capacities to the fullest extent from now on. The period of time before and during Rosh HaShanah is not only the occasion that demands spiritual stock-taking in general, but it also begs for a profound inner appreciation of the tremendous capacities that one possesses as a man, the crown of Creation, and as a Jew whom the Creator has given His Divine Law of Life (Torat Chaim). For Rosh HaShanah is the day when Man was created. When Adam was created, the Creator immediately apprised him of his powers and told him what his purpose in life would be: "Replenish the earth, and conquer it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." Man was given the power to conquer the whole world and to rule over it, on land, sea and in the air, and he was enjoined to so do; this was his task. How was this "world conquest" to be attained, and what is the purpose and true meaning of it? This is what our Sages tell us and teach us in this regard: When G-d created Adam, his soul--his Divine image--permeated and irradiated his whole being, by virtue of which he became the ruler over the entire creation. All the creatures gathered to serve him and to crown him as their creator. But Adam, pointing out their error, said to them: "Let us all come and worship G-d, our Maker!" The "world conquest" that was given to man as his task and mission in life is to elevate the whole of nature, including the beasts and animals, to the service of true humanity, humanity permeated and illuminated by the Divine image, by the soul, which is veritably a part of G-d above, so that the whole of Creation will realize that G-d is our Maker. Needless to say, before a man sets out to conquer the world, he must first conquer himself, through the subjugation of the "earthly" and "beastly" in his own nature. This is attained through actions that strictly accord with the directives of the Torah, the Law of Life--the practical guide in everyday living, so that the material becomes permeated and illuminated with the light of the One G-d, our G-d. G-d created ONE person and on this single person on earth He imposed the said duty and task. Herein lies the profound, yet clear, directive, namely, that one person--each and every person-- is potentially capable of "conquering the world." If a person does not fulfill his task, and does not utilize his inestimable divine powers--it is not merely a personal loss and failure, but something that affects the destiny of the whole world. In these days of introspection, we are duty-bound to reflect that each and every one of us--through carrying out the instructions of the Creator of the World that are contained in His Torah--has the capacity of conquering worlds. Everyone must, therefore, ask himself how much he has accomplished in this direction, and to what extent he has failed, so that he can make the proper resolutions for the coming year. G-d, Who looks into the heart, on seeing the determination behind these good resolutions, will send His blessing for their realization in the fullest measure--in joy and gladness of heart and affluence, materially and spiritually. ************************ * THE SHOFAR'S MESSAGE * ************************ "Our Father, Our King--Avinu Malkeinu." The theme of G-d as Parent and Ruler dominates Rosh HaShanah. The Baal Shem Tov taught that the love G-d has for each one of us is analogous to and surpasses the love a father has for an only child born in his old age. Rosh HaShanah is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve. Thus, it corresponds to the rebirth of humanity and we reestablish our relationship as children of G-d on these days. The sounding of the shofar is connected to this central motif of Rosh HaShanah, that of G-d as our Divine Parent. To better understand this we look to another parable of the Baal Shem Tov: An errant prince, an only son, traveled far from the palace. After many years had passed, the prince yearned to be reunited with his father, the king. However, by the time he returned to his native land, he had forgotten his mother tongue. From deep within his soul a cry emerged, a cry that--no matter how estranged the child--a father could understand. This fervent, broken-hearted plea of "Father, it is I, your only son, help me!" broke through the barriers separating father and son more eloquently than any words the prince might have uttered. At this moment, the king embraced the errant son. For thousands of years the Jewish people have wandered in exile. At times, we even seem to have lost our means of communicating with our Father. We are very much like the proverbial prince, who when facing his father the king could only cry. We are in pain not only because our self-created barriers separate us from G-d. But also because even when we wish to return we encounter all sorts of seemingly insurmountable obstacles born of the national and spiritual exile of our people. The shofar represents the wordless cry of the only child within each of us. Chosen because of its simplicity, it symbolizes the incorruptible nature of the soul connected to the essence of G-d, Himself. Transcending the conventional modes of communication, the shofar's shattering wail arouses in us an awareness of the most powerful bond uniting Father and child. No matter how far we may feel we've strayed throughout the year, no matter how muted or inadequate our ability to communicate with G-d, the shofar of Rosh HaShanah enables us to reconnect in a more fundamental and powerful way than previously envisioned. The Great Shofar, sounded by G-d signaling the messianic age, will pierce all barriers and penetrate beneath the surface of our very beings. When G-d sounds the Great Shofar we will be able to express, completely and openly, the fundamental child/parent relationship we intrinsically have with G-d. The shofar of Redemption will usher in a time when the love between G-d and the Jewish people--concealed throughout our trial-ridden exile--will be fully revealed. May we all be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year. But even before the New Year may we all find ourselves in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem with the revelation of our righteous Moshiach, and he will redeem us. ***************************************** * L'SHANA TOVA * * ...May the Festivals of Tishrei Bring * * Blessings for You and All Your Loved * * Ones, for a Good and Sweet Year, * * Spiritually and Materially, * * and Bring for All of Us * * the Greatest of all Blessings, * * the Final Redemption * * through Our Righteous Moshiach. * ***************************************** ========================================================= = End of Text: Living With Moshiach, Rosh HaShanah 5757 = =========================================================