Page 6 - Mizrachi-RZC Sefer Berachot 5781

Recognition and Teshuva
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky
Co-President, Religious Zionists of America - Mizrachi

Within the context of the High Holidays, when repentance reigns
supreme, Rosh Hashana is an anomaly with no viduy, no selichot,
and no teshuva. Why is Rosh Hashana so different from the rest of
the Yamim Noraim?
In his collection of drashot "Midbar Shur," Rav Avraham Yitzchak
Kook suggested an answer via a story of the great Rav Saadiah
Gaon.
Once a student saw Rav Saadia rolling in the snow, afflicting
himself by performing what the Kabbalists called "Gilgul Sheleg."
Asked the student, "Our Master, why are you doing this? You have
never sinned so greatly to require such extreme measures?"
Rav Saadiah answered that recently when staying at an inn, he was
served in a less than dignified manner. Later, when the innkeeper
realized who his guest was, he begged Rav Saadiah for forgiveness.
Said Rav Saadiah, "If an innkeeper could be so filled with remorse
that he begged forgiveness for not recognizing how important
another person was, how much more so must I be remorseful for not
realizing how great G-d is.
That said Rav Kook is why Rosh Hashana is not about forgiveness.
Because before forgiveness is sought, we must first recognize how
great G-d is, coronate Him as our King, and only then begin the
process of teshuva.
But that was not the only answer Rav Kook offered. In “Moadei
Reiyah,” HaRav Moshe Zvi Neriya, wrote that another reason we do
not seek forgiveness on Rosh Hashana is that Rav Kook viewed
Rosh Hashana as a transitional day between the personal teshuva of
Elul, and the communal teshuva of Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashana is
not a prelude to teshuva. Instead, it is a transition between Erev
Rosh Hashana when the repentance of the "yachid," the individual
ends, and Motza’ei Rosh Hashana, when selichot resume and the
communal process of teshuva begins.
But how does that transition occur?
It is when we realize that G-d is not only our personal G-d but the
Master of the Universe. And that is why we repeatedly speak of G-d
as the Creator, our Master, and our King. Because understanding the
vastness of G-d's world, forces us to consider everyone, to pray for
everyone, and seek forgiveness as members of Klal Yisrael.
May this new year be a year of growth, health, happiness, and
understanding that G-d is our King and we, His loyal servants.