בס "ד


Rosh Hashanah is a time for reflection, prayer, and asking G-d for forgiveness.
In the synagogue, the Torah reading for this day includes not only the stories of our Patriarchs and Matriarchs, but also the story of Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant of Sarah. Her place in the reading teaches us that even the voice of an outsider is heard by G-d.

Hagar: A Mother in Crisis


The Torah tells us that Hagar was sent into the wilderness with her son Ishmael. When their water ran out and no way forward seemed possible, she placed her child under a bush and sat at a distance, weeping in despair. Then an angel of G-d appeared and asked:


“Mah lach Hagar?” – “Hagar, why are you crying?”


At first glance, the question seems unnecessary. Of course the angel knew why she was weeping. Yet the message is clear: tears alone would not save her child. G-d was calling Hagar to act — to lift up her son and to fight for his survival.

The Miracle Already Present


When Hagar followed the angel’s instruction, her eyes were opened and she discovered a well of living water. The water had been there all along, but her vision was clouded by her tears. The real miracle lay not in the sudden appearance of water, but in her courage to rise and act.

Hagar as a Model for Rosh Hashanah


The story of Hagar shows that G-d listens not only to the prayers of Israel, but also to the cry of those beyond its borders. Other examples include Naaman the Aramean, the people of Nineveh who repented at the warning of Jonah, and even Avraham’s servant Eliezer. These examples solidify the message that G-d’s attention and mercy extend to all people. This is especially meaningful on Rosh Hashanah, when G-d judges not only the Jewish people, but the entire world.

That judgment can feel daunting when we reflect on our mistakes, our failures, and the good we have left undone. The fact that G-d heard the prayers of our forefathers, who lived as Noahides before the Torah was given, shows that this isn’t a rare exception. Instead, it’s a principle that G-d listens to the prayers of all righteous Noahides. Yet Hagar’s story offers hope: G-d grants mercy to all who turn to Him sincerely. At the same time, it challenges us to act — to lift up those around us, just as the angel urged Hagar to seek water for her son.

The Echo of the Shofar


For Jews, hearing the shofar is a central mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah. Noahides are not commanded to hear the shofar, but they too can draw inspiration from its cry. The sobbing sound of the shofar recalls Hagar’s weeping in the wilderness: a cry of anguish that was met with hope and life.

Conclusion: Kumi – Rise and Act


As the angel said to Hagar:
“Kumi – Rise, lift up your child, and seek the water.”
This is also the lesson of Rosh Hashanah: even in moments of grief, confusion, and despair, we can take steps toward renewal and growth. When prayer is joined with action, the way opens to hope, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

Hagar calls us this year not only to weep, but to act. Not only to cry out, but to open our eyes to what G-d has already placed within our reach. In this way, 5786 can become a year of renewal, forgiveness, and spiritual growth.

With thanks to Rabbino Moshe Bernstein for the feedback and input

Source:  Inspired by Hegyonot El Ami , Volume I, Rosh Hashanah 18 and Chabad Article : “What is With You, Hagar?” By Moshe Bogomilsky. From the Sichos in English Collection



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