Page 44 - HaMizrachi # 22 Rosh HahHana - Yom Kippur 2020 USA

YAMIM NORA’IM READING

Rabbi Stewart Weiss

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

THE HIGH HOLIDAYS AND THE ART OF LISTENING

ach chag relates to one of our creation, an improved model of our and in ּונ ֵ ל ֹוק ע ַ מ ְ ׁש, in praising G-d as
senses. Pesach connects to former self. Indeed, ר ָ פֹו ׁש connects to ה ָּ ל ִ פ ְּ ת ַ ע ֵ מֹו ׁש.
Espeaking – ח ָ ס-ה ֶּ פ – the mouth ר ֵּ פ ַּ ת ְ ׁש ִ ה ְ ל, to improve. The key is listen-
tells. We are commanded to relate ing. We must listen attentively to the We must train ourselves to listen and
the story of the Exodus via the Hag- shofar blasts and discern the message to hear. It’s not easy; it’s an acquired
gadah and “all who expound upon which each note carries: the sounds of trait. To be a good listener requires
Yetziat Mitzrayim, ח ָּ ב ׁ ֻ ש ְ מ הֶז י ֵ ר ֲ ה,” are contrition and humility, the sounds of patience and humility. It’s not contin-
commended. the broken heart, the sounds of maj- gent on a reply, we just need to know
Shavuot relates to seeing. The Torah esty, the trumpeting of the glory of the someone out there is listening. People
often complain, “This one-way con-
was given amidst a dramatic visual King and His deep devotion to us. versation is so frustrating; I speak to
ֹ
backdrop – ת ֶ א ְ ו תלֹ ֹו ּ ק ַ ה ת ֶ א םי ִ אר ם ָ ע ָ ה ל ָ כ ְ ו Together, these sounds create a sym- Him, but He never answers!” But isn’t
ם ִ די ִּ פ ַּ ל ַ ה – the entire nation saw the phony that instills in us a sense of it wonderful to talk and not be inter-
thunder and the lightning. And Sukkot rupted, to have G-d’s complete atten-
celebrates the sense of touch; we use gratitude to G-d, reminding us how tion, to say what we want to say, with
our hands to build the sukkah, hold dependent we are on Hashem each faith that He hears us out?
the arba minim and beat the hoshanot. moment of our existence. At the same
time, these sounds overwhelm us with As for answers, perhaps, if when we
But what of the High Holidays? I sug- a deep pride and confidence in who are done praying and pouring out our
gest they focus on listening. No other we are, and what we can be: a nation hearts, we stop to listen – deeply – we
time of the year is so sensitive to of destiny, an Am Segula cherished by might just hear G-d reaching towards
sound. The sound of prayer, of greet- our Creator and safeguarded by His us. ע ַ ק ָּ תִי ל ֹודָּ ג ר ָ פֹו ׁש ְ בּו, says the Unetaneh
ing one another, asking mechila and mighty Hand. Tokef prayer, ע ַ מ ׁ ָּ שִי ה ָּ ק ַ ד ה ָ מ ָ מ ּ ְ ד ל ֹוק ְ ו. A
wishing a ה ָ בֹוט ה ָ מי ִ ת ֲ ח ַ ו ה ָ בי ִ ת ְּ כ. The pow- thin little whisper emerges amidst the
erful poems and songs which fill our In the sounds of the shofar, with lyrics grand blasts of the shofar. That small
liturgy, the Selichot chanted deep into provided by the Machzor, we perceive
the night or at the break of dawn. This our whole history, from Creation to voice – perhaps the one inside our
head, or inside our heart – is trying to
is the time of year when chazanim and Flood to Matan Torah to the Exodus
choirs reign supreme. to our return to Israel and eventual speak to us, and it carries a powerful
message.
redemption, when the Shofar Gadol
This theme of listening is most clearly will be sounded and the entire world
connected to the sounds of the shofar. This art of listening doesn’t always
For 40 days – from Rosh Chodesh Elul will hear. The sounds of the shofar – come naturally. But if we work at it, if
until that dramatic last moment of like all music – have a mystical power we learn to listen, to hear, then a whole
Neilah – it is the shofar that provides that can penetrate to the deepest parts new world – G-d’s world – will open
the soundtrack. This number 40 is sig- of our neshamot. up to us.
nificant: 40 years in the desert; 40 days The surprising bracha on tekiat shofar
on Har Sinai, 40 days of the flood, 40 is, ר ָ פֹו ׁש ל ֹוק ַ עמ ְ ׁש ִ ל. Not to blow the
ֹ
days after conception when an embryo shofar, but to hear it! Nowhere else do
is formed, etc. 40 represents a unit we have such a bracha; not for Megil-
of time, an incubation during which
amazing transformations can be made. lah reading (ה ָּ ל ִ ג ְ מ א ָ ר ְ ק ִ מ ל ַ ע), nor Torah
study (ה ָ רֹות י ֵ ר ְ ב ִ ד ְּ ב ק ֹוס ֲ ע ַ ל). The message
The 40 days of the Yamim Noraim is simply to hear. A message echoed in Rabbi Stewart Weiss is director of the
are meant to change us into a new the Selichot’s ה ָּ ל ִ פ ְּ ת ַ ה ל ֶ א ְ ו הָּנ ִ ר ָ ה ל ֶ א ַ עֹמ ׁ ְ ש ִ ל, Jewish Outreach Center of Ra’anana.

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