B"H
Certain things are taken for granted. 
For example, when we turn on a sink faucet, we expect and assume that water will emerge from the tap. Or a child in most households who opens the refrigerator expects to find food on its shelves. In truth, however, neither the water nor the food appear on their own. There is a well-staffed company which maintains the water pipes and pumps necessary to draw water from the reservoir into the residential home, and parents invest incredible energy to stock the refrigerator...
Beginning tomorrow night, Friday (the 1st day of Tishrei) and continuing through Sunday evening, Jews the world over will be petitioning G-d to continue maintaining the universe, like 'water through the tap' for another year. In the absence of the steady flow of Divine energy, all would cease to exist. As we celebrate the momentous holiday of "Rosh Hashana," the anniversary of the creation of the universe, we are not only commemorating creation, but are asking for a renewal of it. Our mystics explain that during these 48 hrs., depending on our requests & will, G-d Will Decide whether to renew the world for another year (and of course, whether that year will be filled w/ wealth, health, and all of our daily needs and desires).
Also, these 48 hrs. are considered the "Rosh" (lit. head) of our year - which, like a head, contains all of the life force for every hr. & day of the coming year (like limbs of the body).
Big Stuff huh?
There's just one hitch to this whole equation: Why in the world (no pun intended) are we commemorating the creation of the world, and are working to have it renewed, on the 1st day of Tishrei!?
"Why not?" you ask.
Well, it just so happens that the Midrash writes that Adam & Eve were created on this 1st day of Tishrei (Rosh Hashana). And we know that they were created on the 6th day of creation.
{ed. note: if you've happen to have been beaten over the head w/ the concept of the world's being formed by chance, check: here , here , or here as food for thought}
Which means that we're really celebrating Rosh Hashana and G-d's Creation on the 6th day of creation. How absurd!
Or is it?
Our Wise Sages explain that this is not by chance. The initial creation of the world came out of G-d's Kindness. But after that, every year the decision to continue creating & enlivening our universe depends on us. That is why we celebrate Rosh Hashana on the 6th day of Creation, for it's on every man and woman to work on our performance of G-d's Will in improving this world and ourselves, in order to elicit G-d's Will for Creation again each year. Our efforts directly affect the creation of the universe.
This idea can be very inspirational, for it shows how vital our efforts really are, in our day to day lives.
The number one focus of the short, precious hours of Rosh Hashana, say our Sages, is to crown Hashem joyfully as our King for another year. For that joy and willingness evokes in G-d the Will to be King for this coming year over His beloved people and world. By contemplating that we are able to give such a pleasure to the Infinite G-d, hopefully this actually can inspire us to really feel joyful when we sit in the synagogue or wherever we are this Rosh Hashana, and inspire us to live a year of more productivity in all areas of good.
May you be inscribed & sealed for a good and sweet year, physically and spiritually, and may all your dreams be fulfilled in all areas of good. And may we all merit to meet together here in Yerushalayim, with the final redemption, may it happen now!!
Daniel
Jerusalem, Israel
P.S. Please forgive me if I have wronged you in any way this yr.!
For example, when we turn on a sink faucet, we expect and assume that water will emerge from the tap. Or a child in most households who opens the refrigerator expects to find food on its shelves. In truth, however, neither the water nor the food appear on their own. There is a well-staffed company which maintains the water pipes and pumps necessary to draw water from the reservoir into the residential home, and parents invest incredible energy to stock the refrigerator...
Beginning tomorrow night, Friday (the 1st day of Tishrei) and continuing through Sunday evening, Jews the world over will be petitioning G-d to continue maintaining the universe, like 'water through the tap' for another year. In the absence of the steady flow of Divine energy, all would cease to exist. As we celebrate the momentous holiday of "Rosh Hashana," the anniversary of the creation of the universe, we are not only commemorating creation, but are asking for a renewal of it. Our mystics explain that during these 48 hrs., depending on our requests & will, G-d Will Decide whether to renew the world for another year (and of course, whether that year will be filled w/ wealth, health, and all of our daily needs and desires).
Also, these 48 hrs. are considered the "Rosh" (lit. head) of our year - which, like a head, contains all of the life force for every hr. & day of the coming year (like limbs of the body).
Big Stuff huh?
There's just one hitch to this whole equation: Why in the world (no pun intended) are we commemorating the creation of the world, and are working to have it renewed, on the 1st day of Tishrei!?
"Why not?" you ask.
Well, it just so happens that the Midrash writes that Adam & Eve were created on this 1st day of Tishrei (Rosh Hashana). And we know that they were created on the 6th day of creation.
{ed. note: if you've happen to have been beaten over the head w/ the concept of the world's being formed by chance, check: here , here , or here as food for thought}
Which means that we're really celebrating Rosh Hashana and G-d's Creation on the 6th day of creation. How absurd!
Or is it?
Our Wise Sages explain that this is not by chance. The initial creation of the world came out of G-d's Kindness. But after that, every year the decision to continue creating & enlivening our universe depends on us. That is why we celebrate Rosh Hashana on the 6th day of Creation, for it's on every man and woman to work on our performance of G-d's Will in improving this world and ourselves, in order to elicit G-d's Will for Creation again each year. Our efforts directly affect the creation of the universe.
This idea can be very inspirational, for it shows how vital our efforts really are, in our day to day lives.
The number one focus of the short, precious hours of Rosh Hashana, say our Sages, is to crown Hashem joyfully as our King for another year. For that joy and willingness evokes in G-d the Will to be King for this coming year over His beloved people and world. By contemplating that we are able to give such a pleasure to the Infinite G-d, hopefully this actually can inspire us to really feel joyful when we sit in the synagogue or wherever we are this Rosh Hashana, and inspire us to live a year of more productivity in all areas of good.
May you be inscribed & sealed for a good and sweet year, physically and spiritually, and may all your dreams be fulfilled in all areas of good. And may we all merit to meet together here in Yerushalayim, with the final redemption, may it happen now!!
Daniel
Jerusalem, Israel
P.S. Please forgive me if I have wronged you in any way this yr.!
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