Rosh Hashana - Universal Impact
The shofar on Rosh Hashana prompts us to acknowledge the essential role each of us can play within the Jewish people and in the world at large.
It’s inescapable. Our lives, both individually and as a people, have been forever changed since October 7th. So much has been exposed: the fragility and vulnerability of Israel, surrounded by intense hatred from enemies who seek to destroy us “from the river to the sea,” as well as the shocking embrace of antisemitism in America and across the diaspora. We can no longer harbor the illusion that we live in a peaceful world where everyone respects Israel for its remarkable resilience and technological innovation. As the title of the now-famous article in The Atlantic put it, “The Golden Age of American Jews Is Ending.”
In some respects, this is old news, but in other ways, it’s a harsh jolt to our sense of security—a shock that leaves us feeling ill-prepared for the holiday. How can we adjust our observance of Rosh Hashana in the context of a post-October 7th world? And if we’re still feeling shell-shocked, how do we ensure we’re not merely going through the motions in this year’s observance of Rosh Hashana?
The answer, I believe, lies in the duality of the names we give this holiday: Rosh Hashana and Yom Hazikaron. The root of shana means both "repeat" and "change." We celebrate a new year, but we do so within the annual cycle of rituals. Similarly, Yom Hazikaron, the “Day of Remembrance,” or as I like to call it, “Memorial Day minus the beer and barbeques,” is not about recalling something forgotten—it’s about placing something at the forefront of our minds, much like the commandment to remember Shabbat. It’s not that we forget about Shabbat during the week and then on Friday night we suddenly realize we will transition to a special day on Saturday. We are naturally aware of Shabbat throughout the week, but as we approach Friday night, our focus shifts and Shabbat becomes top of mind. In the same way, Yom Hazikaron highlights this duality—acknowledging the past while focusing on the future—to help guide us through a sometimes sobering new reality. We can draw strength from our history and connection to God and Torah to support us as we navigate a world that threatens us and often defies logic.
The Rambam teaches that the zikaron (remembrance) of the shofar blowing has a distinct purpose—to wake us from our slumber and galvanize us to confront the profound question: What is the meaning of life? What is my place in this world, and how can I make a genuine impact? Once we engage in that reflection, we can begin to transform our lives, infusing our passions and interests with deeper meaning. Rosh Hashana, as a holiday of din—an attribute that connotes definition—offers us the opportunity to define our potential in a way that will carry spiritual significance throughout the year ahead. When Rosh Hashana ends, this definition is fixed and can no longer be changed during the rest of the Aseret Yemei Teshuva or even on Yom Kippur. Therefore, it’s imperative that we heed the sounding of the shofar today and seize this opportunity, which is truly once in a lifetime, since we can never go back and re-experience this year’s Rosh Hashana again!
But this zikaron and the Rambam’s exhortation to search our souls during the shofar blasts is not simply intended to reignite our spark so that we can achieve personal goals. Nor is it solely concerned with awakening our Jewish essence through Torah study and mitzvot, to bring us individual rewards. The shofar on Rosh Hashana is also prompting us to acknowledge the essential role each of us can play within the Jewish people and in the world at large. As we listen to the blasts, we must recognize our potential to tip the scales and influence not just our own lives, but people everywhere, even those outside our daily orbit. This day commemorates the creation of the world, a universal occasion that goes beyond Jewish history. It marks the anniversary of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, reminding us that our individual accomplishments are intricately connected to the destiny of the Jewish people and all of humanity.
This kind of transformation is exemplified by Roi Assaraf, a survivor of the October 7th massacre. After the attack, Roi and his wife dedicated themselves to supporting soldiers and fellow Israelis, with Roi even offering free haircuts to IDF members. This spirit of unity, which swept through Israel after the attack, was free from שִׂנְאַת חִנָּם (sinat chinam—baseless hatred) and deepened Roi’s emunah (faith) in Hashem, inspiring him to take on more mitzvot. His experience shifted his understanding of what truly matters in life. Roi and his wife have since written a book about their journey and now travel the world to share their story and inspire others. This story reminds us of the importance of resilience, emunah, and bitachon—faith—and the ability to turn adversity into a force for good. It reminds us that each of our stories is more than a narrative about a solitary individual. Its deepest significance lies in how we connect to God, the Jewish people, and the world. So, as we listen to the shofar today, let us ask God to help us develop our unique skills, not only to benefit ourselves but to serve all His creation.
I encourage everyone to reflect on this message during the shofar blowing—because Rosh Hashana is that powerful. May we use Rosh Hashana’s once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to focus on what really matters: our relationship with God, our individual purpose, and our interconnection with the Jewish people and the world. Let us emerge from this holiday with the strength to fulfill our potential and make a meaningful impact in the year ahead.
שָׁנָה טוֹבָה and Chag Sameach!
Rabbi Eliezer Hirsch