בס”ד
Rosh Hashanah (2-3 in October 2024) is a day of renewal and unity. It is a day when the creation of the world was completed. There is a meaningful story related to Rosh Hashanah; it happened on this day. Adam and Eve were created, and just a few hours after Adam was created, he was given six divine commands:
- To believe in Hashem.
- Not to curse the creator.
- To respect human life.
- Not to commit adultery.
- Establishing a court system.
- The Prohibition of Theft.
A few generations after that, Noah was commanded not to eat a limb from a living animal. So one of the first things that happened on the very first day of Adam’s creation was the giving of the seven Noahide laws, which shows us how important these commandments are.
On the first day of creation, a very important event is described in the Torah portion of Genesis. Adam ate from the Tree of Knowledge, which is something he was not supposed to do. Then, G-d questioned, “Where are you?” Hashem didn’t know where Adam was; how could it be? The question, “Where are you?” is not about the physical location of Adam. The question forced Adam to be aware of the disconnection from his Creator. This question challenges us, whether we feel connected or distant from the Divine, in our daily lives. And this is part of the first Noahide commandment to internalize our belief in Hashem. That is the meaning of receiving the kingship of Hashem—to internalize the fact that we are the servants of Hashem, and this is the highest point any human being can aspire to. To accept the kingship of Hashem and serve Him.
The Hebrew word for “sin,” chet, translates to “missing the target.” The sin is not simply a wrongdoing but involves a deviation from one’s true divine path. Sometimes there is a disconnection between one’s genuine self and G-d. Everyone has to ask himself this question: Where am I? Am I on the right side and doing the divine mission? Or maybe I am on the sidelines, for the time being?
This insight shows us how low a human being can be if he is disconnected from the will of G-d. And, on the other hand, how high he can be if he is connected to almighty G-d. A person has to be aware of his true condition and accept good resolutions before the coming year. These resolutions are a good vessel to accept the abundance. Once we make good resolutions, Hashem gives us the power to fulfill them and to enter Rosh Hashanah joyfully, and this ensures that we receive all the blessings from Hashem materialistically and spiritually.
By Rabbi Moshe Bernstein
If you want more questions for contemplation, SEE THE OTHER BLOGS FROM RABBI MOSHE BERNSTEIN
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