Page 3 - HaMizrachi Australia Rosh HaShana Yom Kippur 5781

TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Doron Perez

Head, Heart and Soul

THE FES TIVALS OF TISHREI

Head It’s a time of deep cognitive reflection. recalibrate our moral course and
reset our spiritual compass.
t is fascinating that the Hebrew We examine our spiritual and mental
for our New Year is Rosh Hasha- paradigms, thought processes and Rosh Hashanah is an intense exercise
Inah – the Head of the Year – and mindset as we address the salient in systematic and strategic spiritual
not the more obvious term Reishit issues of life in preparation for the thinking.
HaShanah, which means the begin- year ahead. It’s a time for big picture
ning of the year. 1 mind mapping rather than meddling Heart
in minutiae.
So why did our Sages pick this term – Yom Kippur is all about Service of the
the head – to define the first festival There is no focus on individual Heart – Avodat HaLev. 2
of the year actions nor any mention of sin – not
one single confession – throughout The ideal exists in our head, whereas
It seems that the head and mind are the lengthy prayer service. We dare actual change happens through the
the keys to understanding the essence not get lost in the details lest we fail heart. Our inner will – our ratzon
of the day. to distinguish the woods from the – is the engine of personal trans-
trees. It’s not a time ‘to be rearrang- formation. Yom Kippur is a day that
On the anniversary of Creation, we ing deck chairs on the Titanic,’ but rotates around the axis of will, want
aim to envision and recreate in our rather to ensure that we are heading and desire. It demands a detailed
minds the ideal world we would like in the right direction. The shofar is spiritual makeover to align our will
to live in and the ideal role we would the instrument of the day and the with the Divine Will in every area
like to play in it. echo of Jewish history calling us to of life. That is why vidui – personal

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