ROSH HASHANAH

RAMIFICATIONS OF THE NEW YEAR

“Avraham lifted up his eyes and looked and behold behind him was a ram caught Basevach in the thicket by its horns” (Gen.22.13)



The letters constituting the term Sevach – thicket, viz. Samech, Bet & Haf, are followed in the Alef Bet by the letters Ayyin, Gimmel & Lamed = Egel – calf, an allusion to the golden calf. (Shemena Lahmo)



We are the ram caught in the thicket of the world of nature in which we live, to end up in self-sacrifice in serving the golden calf. The more we struggle to get free, the more we entangle ourselves.



The sounds of the Shofar remind us that we cannot liberate ourselves without help from a higher source.

The Tekiyah calls us to prayer;

The Shevarim calls us to return through Teshuvah;

The Teruah calls us to set things right through Tzedakah – acts of righteousness.
The final Tekiyah is the jubilant proclamation of our redemption, brought about by the Rahamim – compassion of Hashem.



May we all be freed from the many snares that trap us, so that we may enjoy a year of fulfilment and peace for Klal Yisrael in general and for ourselves in particular.

A Blessed 5767