Rosh ha-Shanah
is referred to in Torah as Yom Teruah the Day of Sounding the shofar or Yom ha Zikkaron the Day of remembering. Not called Rosh ha Shanah the New Year until Talmudic times.
Lev. 23:23-25-
on the first day of the seventh month Tishri
a day of rest
a remembrance with shofar blasts
a holy convocation
no laborious work
a sacrifice by fire
a day of rest as a positive commandment.
The only recorded observance of the Feast of Trumpets is mentioned in Ezra 3:1-6 Ezra the scribe related that it was during the Feast of Trumpets that the Temple alter was rebuilt, and sacrifices were reinstituted by those who returned from the Babylonian exile.
What are we remembering?
Awake, you sleepers, from your sleep!
Arise you slumberers, from your slumber!
Repent with contrition!
Remember your Creator!
Peer into your souls, improve your ways and your deeds.
(Hil. Teshuvah 2:3)
The Shofar
The shofar has always had a special place for the Hebrew people.
it is necessary for us to see how trumpets were used:
(a) It was sounded to bring Moses to the top of Mount Sinai to receive the commandments (Ex.19:19-20); First time Trumpet is mentioned in the Bible
Our creator
And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moshe spoke, and G-d answered him by voice, then the L-rd came down upon Mount Sinai,
(Exodus 19:18-29.) Presence of G-d.
(b) It was a signal during time of war (Judg.3:27); Our creator
His protection even in times of war. His winning the battle for us. Jericho
(d) It was blown during coronation services of a new King (Lev.25:9); Our creator establishes those in authority while he is the most high king
(e) It was a sign of the regathering of dispersed Israel (Isa.27:13); Our creator
Will gather all his people to the land of promise
(f) It was sounded as a warning of danger (Amos 3:6); and Our creator
Wishes us to look out for each other during times of danger and not leave any stragglers behind
(g) It will be sounded in anticipation of the day of the arrival of the Messiah (Zec.9:14).
Ancient Jewish tradition held that the resurrection of the dead would occur on Rosh Hashanah.
(h) Why a rams horn? Sacrifice. The Ram was often used for sacrifice. Rememberance of G-ds intervention of the sacrifice of Issac.
Types of Trumpet blasts. There was much debate after the destruction of the temple as there is not a specific description of the type of blasts to be used. The following pattern was developed:
Tekiah One long blast and call to attention and worship
Shevarim Three short broken blasts, call to repentance and mourning
Teruah Nine short staccato blasts, a call to action or war
Tekiah One long blast and a call to attention and worship.
Remembering our sins for repentance.
The process of teshuvah repentance will hopefully culminate if forgiveness forgiving those who hurt us; others forgiving us; and finally G-d forgiving us. It is literally a process of atonement that allows us to become at one with G-d and with the rest.
Tradition teaches that the atonement received on Yom Kippur was for those sins between man and G-d. Those sins between man and man must first be repented of between man and man and G-d. Remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift,
Above all, every man should make amends for all the wrongs he has committed against his fellow men for which there is no atonement unless he makes restitution and begs their forgiveness.
During this time everyone must examine his deeds and turn away from all evil. The reason for this is there is greater need of repentance for sins of which one is uncertain than for sins of which one is certain, because one is more remorseful when he is aware of having committed a sin than when he is ignorant of it. For this reason, the trespass offering for doubtful sins was more costly than the sin-offering for positive sins.
The New Year
Rosh Hashanah means head of the year although this designation was not put upon the feast until at least the second century.
In tradition Rosh ha-Shanah as the New Year is tied to the creation of the world. Thus
in the Talmud there is a debate as to whether the world was created in Nisan (the month when Passover falls) or in Tishri. The Talmud settles the argument by saying, You are both right, there being four new years in the Jewish calendar.
1. Nisan 1 is the New year day for kings and months
2. Elul 1 is the new year for tithing of animals.
3. Shevat 15 (Tu Bishvat) is the new year for trees.
4. Tishri 1 is the new year for years and marks the anniversary of creation of the world.
Tradition
According to Jewish tradition, three books are opened on Rosh Hashanah: The book of life for the wicked, the Book of life for the righteous, and the Book of life for the in-between. As the judge of the universe reviews mankinds deeds of the past year he inscribes the name of every individual in to one of these books. Those written in the book of the wicked will have their days and life cut short during the coming year. Those in the book of Righteousness will be granted another year of life and prosperity in the L-rd, and those in the in-between have the sealing of there fate hanging in the balance based upon the repentance during the days of awe. Thus the common greeting. Leshanah tovah tikarevu. May you be inscribed in the book of life for a good year.
References used for this teaching.
Congregation Roeh Israel, The High Holy Days. Denver Co, No date given
Howard, Kevin and Rosenthal, Marvin, Feasts of the L-rd, Thomas Nelson Inc, Nashville, TN. 1997
Levitt, Zola, The Seven Feasts of Israel, Dallas Tx, No date given.
Donnin, Rabbi Hayim Halevy, To Be a Jew, Basic Books Inc., New York, 1972
