BackHow Should One Feel on Rosh Hashanah?
By: Rabbi Barak Bar-Chaim
Our sages teach us that Rosh Hashanah is not simply an arbitrary date chosen to celebrate the beginning of a Jewish new year. Rosh Hashanah is The Day of Judgment. It is the day where every individual and the entire nation of Israel comes before God in judgment. It is a serious day filled with awe of the Creator, the ultimate judge of all humankind. God is omnipresent and knows even our innermost thoughts. We have nowhere to hide and nothing that we can hide. It is certainly a day of awe and trepidation.
The Shulchan Aruch states: “We wash our clothing and take haircuts on Erev Rosh Hashanah.” The Chofetz Chaim explains that, by doing so, “we show our confidence in the kindness of Hashem, that He will judge us with righteousness.” We see from here that, while filled with awe, we also approach Rosh Hashanah with a sense of confidence in God’s kindness and just judgment. A sense of awe and a feeling of confidence are both appropriate emotional expressions on Rosh Hashanah.
The Shulchan Aruch also states: “We eat and drink and rejoice (on Rosh Hashanah) but do not fast on Rosh Hashanah, although one should not overeat so as not to become lightheaded, and the fear of God shall be on your faces.” The Chofetz Chaim explains that Rosh Hashanah is a holiday and, therefore, there is a Mitzvah to be joyous. He quotes chapter 8 from the Book of Nechemiah, where Ezra had a public Torah reading for the Jewish people on Rosh Hashanah. The people responded to the Torah reading by crying and mourning. Ezra and Nechemiah comforted the people saying: “Go, eat choice foods, and drink sweet drinks and send portions to whoever has nothing prepared, for the day is holy to our Lord. Do not be sad, for your rejoicing in the LORD is the source of your strength.” (Nechemiah 8:10) The people were being taught that the very fulfillment of the Mitzvah of being happy and rejoicing on Yom Tov would be the strength that ensures them favorable judgment. These sources indicate that happiness is the third appropriate emotional expression on Rosh Hashanah.
Friends, on Rosh Hashanah (and throughout the Ten Days of Repentance) we should feel a predominance of awe, confidence, and happiness. Our awe-inspired, joyous, and confident service of Hashem during this time is our source of strength. May