Crowning Our King On Rosh Hashanah

A guest we were hosting for Shabbat asked the famous questions we all ponder from time to time when we allow ourselves the opportunity to question:  “Why are we here? What was Hashem’s intention in creating us? What is our purpose here?” Isn’t it interesting how these questions tend to appear most during the days of Elul? As the previous year comes to a close and a new year begins we are reawakened as we hear the shofar blasts and reminded of our purpose once again for the coming year. Many of us spend years thinking about these questions.

Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato (the Ramchal), zt”l, author of the classic Mesilat Yesharim (The Path of the Just), writes that he already struggled in successfully understanding man’s purpose in this world. The Ramchal states: “Our Sages of blessed memory have taught us that man was created for the sole purpose of rejoicing in deriving pleasure from the splendor of His presence; for this is true joy and the greatest pleasure that can be found. The place that this joy can truly be derived is the World to Come, which was expressively created to provide for it.  But the path to the object of our desires is this world.  Like our Sages have said:  This world is like a corridor to the World to Come.”

Since the tickets to enter the World to Come are mitzvot (commandments), we are only able to acquire them in this world. Therefore, Hashem placed man in this world in order to attain that which awaits him.  As it says in the Gemara (Talmud) in Eruvin: “Today is for the performance of mitzvot and tomorrow for receiving their reward.”  The Rabbis also teach that one who toils on Erev Shabbat will eat on Shabbat. In other words, this world is only a means to a goal - the corridor to the entranceway to the banquet hall.  It is only logical that the only way we acquire mitzvot is in this world, since this world is the world of “action” (Asiya: La’asot - to do).  And it is also very logical that we feel this most during Elul as we feel Rosh Hashanah quickly approaching.

I was privileged to learn with one of my teachers from Eretz Yisrael about the energies of the months based on Sefer Yetzira and Rabbi Chaim Vital’s (a student of the Arizal) teachings that everything has four elements in it: fire, earth, air, and water.  Also, each month corresponds to a different element.  If we start with Nissan = Fire, Iyar = Earth, Sivan = Air, Tammuz = Water, we see that Elul is empowered with the element of Earth (Av = Fire, Elul = Earth). We know that earth has great potential when it is actualized.  Earth represents stability, structure, respect for boundaries, and is able to be productive when combined with the other elements. Therefore, during the month of Elul, we tend to feel an increase for the need for stability and more structure. We yearn to be more disciplined and we desire to fulfill our true potential.

Is it any wonder why during this time before Rosh Hashanah we reflect on the past year and are encouraged to do some introspection to see what we have accomplished, how we have grown, and what area that we can still strengthen?  Since this world is the world of “action” and Elul is the month of “action” (the creation of the world took place on the 25^th of Elul), this is the opportune time to acquire more and more mitzvot.  It is not coincidence that Tishrei follows Elul, since Tishrei corresponds to air, which is defined by tefilla (Prayer) - as we stand praying during all of the holidays of the month of Tishrei: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Succot. We beseech Hashem to inscribe and seal us in the Book of Life, forgive us, and bless us.  As Shlomo Hamelech (King Solomon), the wisest of all men, said in Kohelet, “After all is said and done, the bottom line is to fear/serve Hashem and keep His mitzvot.”  There is nothing more productive than Torah and mitzvot.

The Chazon Ish taught that what Torah is for men, tzniut (modesty) is for women.  Modesty is our protection.  It enables us to become the recipient of blessing.  Modesty is the essential ingredient in the building of a house; it guards us from being distinct in the general world. Rabbi M. Shlanger, in his book Ohel Rachel, explains that the purpose of a home is to create a “wall of protection.”  There is an Ashkenazi custom that during the chuppah ceremony, the kallah walks around her husband seven times.  It is explained that at that moment she is creating a choma (wall), because the essence of the marriage covenant is exclusivity.  Once she becomes his wife she will be beloved to him. The Maharal says that the highest form of praise for a women is her modesty, like it says about Sara Imanu (our foremother), when the angels asked Avraham where his wife was, Avraham answered “in the tent.”  Didn’t the angels know where Sara was?  Why did they have to ask?  They wanted Avraham to be aware and remind him how modest his wife is in order increase his love for her.  Since Sara was modest in the tent she received the brachah (blessing) to conceive a child - something that was a miracle at her age and beyond nature.

On Rosh Hashanah we crown our Creator, The King, thereby becoming His servants. Rather than focusing on our desires, we ask ourselves, “What does Hashem, my King, want me to do?” We give up our desires for His - our will for His will. When Hashem sees our great desire to do His will, then He makes our will His will.  As we say in the morning prayers: Baruch … she’asani kirtzono (Blessed are you, Hashem, for creating me according to Your will). The word kirtzono comes from the word ratzon (will), which Rebbetzin Tehila Jaeger explains can be changed into tzinor (pipe), thereby creating a direct pipeline to receive blessings from Hashem. The woman’s true spiritual job description was not to go into the world like the man, but to guard the inner essence of the home and to be able to guard the individuality of their inner lives. By creating a place specific for her and her husband, the individuality of the man and the individuality of the woman can join together, limiting their individuality with the outside world.  Therefore, every couple should discuss what they would like to reveal to the public and what they would rather conceal to remain private and sacred for one another.

The understanding behind modesty is to conceal the inner essence that is specific to the home. Modesty is a way for a woman to draw her husband close to her, since it shows belonging.  We have walls to insure privacy and homes that have holiness and individuality to create a distinct couple as well as a distinct nation. Shlomo Hamelech writes in the 27^th pasuk of “Ayshet Chayil” (The Woman of Valor), as he praises his mother Bat Sheva, “Tzofia halichot baita, ve’lechem atzlut lo tochel.” The ayshet chayil anticipates the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of laziness.  The commentator Rashi explains: In her home she pays attention to the needs of the members of her household, taking care that they should act with truth and modesty.  She doesn’t eat the bread of laziness since she does her work willingly.  She understands the importance of mitzvot and is eager to perform them, which enables her to build a relationship with her husband, her children, and ultimately with Hashem.

May we all be blessed with a sweet, healthy, prosperous New Year and actualize our greatest potential in the coming year!