Shalom All,
As we enter into the final month of summer, we once again find ourselves faced with the challenge of repentance. I know it seems early to be speaking of atonement and forgiveness but it isn’t. This year, Rosh Hashanah begins on September 6th, which means we have just over a month to prepare ourselves.
On Rosh Hashanah morning we read a special section from the Torah called “The Akeidah – The Binding of Isaac.” As you probably remember, God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, and Abraham willingly obeys. At the last moment, as Abraham is about to slay his son, an angel calls down from heaven and tells him that God never desired Isaac’s slaughter only that Abraham prove his faith, which he did. In the end, Abraham sacrifices a ram instead, and today we remember this deed when we blow the shofar, a ram’s horn, to announce the New Year.
A midrash, however, suggest that there is another reason that the ram’s horn is used at Rosh Hashanah. In it, God asks Enoch to find something he could use to announce the world’s birthday. He first tries two rocks, banging them together in front of God. God, however, is unimpressed and declares that rocks only make noise, not music. The New Year, God says, should be ushered in with music.
Next Enoch brings a harp before God. He plays it perfectly and God has to admit that a harp makes beautiful music. The harp, though, is not loud enough to announce the New Year, and is made from iron, a metal used to make weapons of war, which is also not appropriate for the New Year.
Enoch then shows God a trumpet. It also makes beautiful music and is even loud enough to announce the world’s birthday, but God is still unimpressed. The trumpet is fashioned by human beings and is therefore unsuitable for this purpose.
Finally, Enoch presents a ram’s horn to God. He points out that it is not made of metal nor is it fashioned by human beings, that it can make music, but it isn’t easy to play like a harp or a trumpet. God, however, thinks it’s perfect. It’s natural, and loud, and can make beautiful music.
The fact that it is hard to play is perfect too. The New Year is a difficult time. It is a time for deciding to do good things and give up bad things. It is a time for apologies and forgiveness. It is a time to reconnect with our people and, like Abraham, prove our own faith.
May the month ahead be a good one, filled with self-reflection and forgiveness. May it enable us all to approach the High Holy Days with open hearts and repentant souls.
Shalom,
Rabbi Todd