The peoples of the world also have a day that marks the beginning of a new year, but the Jewish approach to Rosh Hashanah is completely different from the approach accepted in the world. Jews prepare themselves for Rosh Hashanah by making extensive mental preparations, and when this day arrives, they are surrounded by a sense of awe and heaviness.
This attitude encapsulates the Jewish view of human life and its role on earth. A Jew knows that there is a purpose and goal for life. He believes that there is someone to whom he must give an account.
As Rosh Hashanah approaches, he is overcome with trembling and anxiety: Where do I stand in carrying out my mission in the world? He takes stock of himself and decides to correct and improve his actions. Only then does he dare to come, with humility and an anxious heart, to ask God for another year.
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Discovered with a tremor
The name of this day expresses its essence – Rosh Hashanah. The first of Tishrei is not only the first day of the year, but it is its 'head'. Just as the head gives life to the entire body and activates all its members, so Rosh Hashanah determines everything that will happen during the year. Therefore, it is the Day of Judgment, and we spend much time on it in prayer and reciting Tehillim.
This concept explains the complexity of Rosh Hashanah. Isn't it said 'Hillel', as the Sages said: "The Blessed One sits on the throne of judgment, and the books of life and the books of the dead are open before Him, and Israel sings poetry?!" Nor do they say in prayer, "Feasts of joy, holidays and times of rejoicing," because Rosh Hashanah is not given for joy and rejoicing.
And yet, it is commanded to eat, drink, and rejoice on this day, and it is even said about this day: "Eat fatty foods and drink sweets." The joy stems from the confidence that God, the Exalted, will judge us with mercy and write us and seal us for a good and sweet year. However, this is joy in the sense of "and be discovered with trembling." Therefore, it is said that one should refrain from bodily pleasure and sleep on the two days of Rosh Hashanah, and utilize every free moment for prayer, Torah, and especially for reciting Tehillim.
All of this stems from regarding this day as the head. Every day of the year should be utilized properly, but if, God forbid, we do not utilize one day properly, it is a specific harm to that day. In contrast, if, God forbid, the 'head' of the year is harmed, it will affect the entire year.
There is a king
The essence of spiritual work on Rosh Hashanah is accepting the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven. In prayer, we ask: "Reign over the whole world in Your glory… and let every worker know that You are its worker, and let every creature understand that You created it." Many times we note and emphasize that God is King – "King over all the earth." He is the King and we accept His yoke upon ourselves, to fulfill His will.
We ask that the Kingdom of the Creator will encompass all of creation. We pray that "they may all be united to do Your will with a complete heart" – that all of humanity may unite to worship, love, and fear the Lord. And the great request of all of us is: 'Give glory to Your people, O Lord… joy to Your land and gladness to Your city," and most of all – 'a horn may sprout for Your servant David, and a lamp may be lit for the son of Jesse, Your anointed.".
