ROSH HASHANAH
Can you figure out what each picture has to do with the Yom Tov?
Rabbi Dani Staum
Rosh Hashanah Pix – KEY
Kever Rochel – The haftorah for the second day of Rosh Hashanah states that Rochel cried for her children when they were exiled after the destruction of the first Bais Hamikdash and Hashem assured her that in her merit the nation would return.
Vatispalel Chanah (And Chana Davened) – The haftorah for the first day of Rosh Hashanah is the story of Chana being barren and davening to Hashem and then giving birth to Shmuel. She was “remembered” on Rosh Hashanah (Gemara Rosh Hashanah 10b).
Giving Torah on Har Sinai – We mention in the section of shofaros about the shofar being blown atop Har Sinai.
Moshiach – In Shofaros we also mention the pasuk that states that in the future “on that day” when Mashiach comes, the great shofar will be sounded and the Jewish people will all return to Eretz Yisroel.
L’ayla ul’ayla (Exceedingly above)– During aseres yimei teshuva the text of kaddish changes from לעלא מן כל to לעלא ולעלא מכל. We want to emphasize the added “supremacy” of Hashem during these days, but without altering from the number of words in Kaddish.
Good life – One of the insertions added during aseres yimei Teshuva (second to last beracha of Shemoneh Esrei) asks Hashem to “Write all Your children of Your covenant for good life”.
Flowing Water – The custom is to recite tashlich next to a body of flowing water. One of the reasons is to symbolize the flowing and never-ending monarchy of Hashem.
Meloch al kol haolam… Let Your monarchy be over the entire world – One of the central prayers and themes of Rosh Hashanah is our longing for all of creation to recognize Hashem’s majesty and monarchy over the entire world.
Memory – Rosh Hashanah is called Yom Hazikaron – the day of remembrance. As we say in Mussaf of Rosh Hashanah “Who is not recalled on this day?”
Judgement – Rosh Hashanah is the great day of judgement when everyone and everything in creation is judged by Hashem (Rosh Hashanah 1:1).
Writing in a book – On Rosh Hashanah the decree of what will happen to every person is recorded (Rosh Hashanah 16b).
Pomegranates, apples, honey – On the first night of Rosh Hashanah it is customary to eat different fruits/vegetables and to say special prayers asking for blessings in the coming year. Most famous are the applies dipped in honey. But many eat a variety of other foods as well.
