Page 6 - HaMizrachi Australia Rosh HaShana Yom Kippur 5781

TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Danny Mirvis

Standing Alone

Before Hashem

he Mishna The common message of these images this article, it seems unlikely that we
towards the is that on Rosh Hashanah we stand will have communal Tefillot in shuls
Tbeginning of before Hashem as individuals. We this year, and even if conditions do
Masechet Rosh Hasha- cannot blame others, hide behind allow it, we will be extremely limited
nah (1:2) informs us: general societal decadence, or justify in numbers and still exclude many
“On Rosh Hashanah, ourselves by pointing out those who individuals who would otherwise have
all the creatures of achieve less than us. We are each been able to attend.
the world pass before judged in comparison to our own
Him (Hashem) like ‘Bnei potential and must accept responsibil- Rather than focus on what we are
Maron, as it says, ‘He ity as individuals. missing this year, we must use the
’
who fashions their hearts However, the continuation of the opportunity to add meaning to our
together, who understands Gemara portrays a very different Rosh Hashanah experience. Though
all their actions’.” scene: it is not advisable or sustainable
as a long-term measure, there can
What does it mean that “Rabba bar Bar Chana said in the be something deeply meaning-
on Rosh Hashanah we all name of Rabbi Yochanan, ‘And they ful in standing before Hashem as
come before Hashem “like Bnei are all scanned in one glance.’ Rav individuals.
Maron”? Nachman bar Yitzchak said, ‘We can This year, we cannot delegate our sup-
The Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 18a) also support this from the Mishna, plications to the Chazan or treat our
provides three explanations: ‘He who fashions their hearts prayers like a spectator sport. Away
together, who understands all their from the “safety in numbers” of com-
“What is meant by ‘like Bnei Maron’? actions’.” munal prayer, we have no choice but
Here (in Bavel) they translated, ‘like to accept responsibility for our own
young sheep.’ Resh Lakish said, ‘like According to this, we are judged prayer experience as we stand as indi-
simultaneously, as one collective unit.
the ascent of Beit Maron.’ Rav Yehuda This is not meant to contradict the viduals before Hashem.
said in the name of Shmuel, ‘like the previous sentiment, but to add a fur-
soldiers of the house of David’.” ther dimension, for Rosh Hashanah We have so much to thank Hashem
for. And so much to pray for as well.
Rashi explains each of these opin- presents us with a dual challenge. On Imagine being granted a private audi-
ions: according to the first opinion, the one hand, we pass before Hashem ence with Her Majesty Queen Eliz-
we pass before Hashem for judgment as individuals. At the same time, like abeth on one of her birthdays. This
like sheep being counted for tithing the individual sheep who is an inte- year, each of us can have a private
as they pass through a narrow gate, gral member of the flock and the indi- audience with The King of kings on
one at a time. According to Resh vidual soldier who is part of an army the day of His coronation over the
Lakish, we pass before Hashem like a and represents his country, we stand Universe.
line of people climbing the ascent of before Hashem as part of something Wishing you a year of health, blessing
greater than ourselves. We cannot
Beit Maron, where the narrow path divorce our individual destiny from and prosperity.
between two valleys only allows one the destiny of our people or the des-
person to pass at a time. According tiny of the world.
to Rav Yehuda in the name of Shmuel,
we pass before Hashem like the sol- The image of coming before Hashem
diers of David, who went out to battle “like Bnei Maron” is particularly poi- Rabbi Danny Mirvis is the Senior Rabbi at
single-file. gnant this year. At the time of writing Mizrachi Melbourne.

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