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Rabbi Doron Perez addresses the outgoing Religious Zionist shlichim in July 2022. (PHOTO: DAVID STEIN)

spouses, and parents. We are part of a If we succeed in living as complete
family, a community, a people, and a Jews, both individually and commu-
broader world. What difference have nally, perhaps we will no longer need
we made to them? two separate days. May we soon merit
How do we know if we are fulfilling
The Zohar maintains that the two our two missions? How do each to return to the original Biblical imper-
ative of a one-day Rosh Hashanah: one
days of Rosh Hashanah reflect two of us know what exactly our
distinct types of judgment. The first day to reconnect with both our per-
sonal and public life purpose.
day of Rosh Hashanah is called dina unique mission is meant to be?
kashia, a “harsh judgment”; while the
judgment of the second day is called 1. Bettering ourselves on a personal level became
dina rafia, a “weaker judgment”. While overcome. Aiming to fix the counter- the salient focus of the Mussar movement. The
the first day reflects the harshness of productive and dysfunctional behav- mission of ם ָלֹוע ןּוקי ִּ ת is mentioned explicitly in
strict judgment, the second day blends ioral patterns in our individual lives the ּוני ֵל ָע prayer which we say three times a day,
and it is also a centerpiece of the Yamim Noraim
strict judgment together with mercy. 2 constitutes the essence of our personal prayers.
mission. 4
The first day is a “harsh judgment” 2. Zohar, Pinchas, 231b. This mystical insight
because on this day we stand com- Conversely, when it comes to our of the Zohar is based on a halachic anomaly
pletely alone as individuals. The public mission, we must focus on very concerning Rosh Hashanah, the only festival
observed for two days in Israel. Biblically a one-
second day is a “weaker judgment” different elements of our personalities day festival, the Sages extended Rosh Hashanah
because we are never alone when we – our strengths and passions. When to two days during the Second Temple period.
are part of the broader community we use our G-d-given strengths, qual- The only festival celebrated on Rosh Chodesh,
and contributing to its success. When ities and skills in service of a cause the beginning of a new month, the timing of
Rosh Hashanah led to many difficulties relating
we ensure that our individual destiny we are passionate about, we can to the process of sanctifying the new moon, then
is inextricably linked with the destiny fully reliant on its sighting by witnesses who
of Klal Yisrael, we can draw upon the make a transformative impact on our testified before the beit din in Jerusalem. It was
not always clear which was the first day of the
merit of the community. 3 surroundings. new month. In order to overcome technical dif-
ficulties concerning doubtful lunar sightings at
the beginning of Tishrei, Rosh Hashanah became
Weaknesses and strengths A complete Jew a two-day festival throughout the Jewish world.
Based on this practical halachic rationale, the
How do we know if we are fulfilling In order to fulfill our life purpose, we Zohar offers a deeper spiritual reason for this
our two missions? How do each of us must succeed in both our private and unusual change in the calendar.
know what exactly our unique mission public missions. We must be careful 3. See the discourse on Rosh Hashanah in Rabbi
is meant to be? not to lose ourselves in either role to Eliyahu Dessler, Michtav MeEliyahu, vol. 2.
The Netivot Shalom argues that our the exclusion of the other, for we must 4. Rabbi Shalom Noach Berezovsky, Netivot
Shalom, first shiur, Parashat Re’eh.
personal mission is to grapple with have it both ways. The dual judgment
our weaknesses and vulnerabilities, of Rosh Hashanah beckons us to both
with those moral and spiritual chal- heal ourselves and the fractured world Rabbi Doron Perez is the Executive Chairman
lenges that we find most difficult to in which we live. of World Mizrachi.

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