B"H

Tuesday, Elul 10, 5778 / August 21, 2018

Rosh Hashana is less than three weeks away. On Rosh Hashana we pray to be inscribed in the Book of Life, for a good, happy, healthy and successful Year.

We also perform symbolic expressions for our wishes and desires for the New Year. For instance, on Rosh Hashana we dip the Challah in honey, which symbolizes our request for a sweet year. We dip a sweet apple in honey and say, "May it be Your will to grant us a good and sweet year."

Some eat from the head of a fish or lamb on Rosh Hashana and recite, "May it be Your will that we be a head…" Yom Kippur, we wear white, a symbolic gesture that our sins are forgiven.

The Magid of Dubna gives the following parable to explain that the most important thing is our good actions, not just the symbols:

A poor man was once invited to the home of a wealthy man for a meal. He was overwhelmed by all the glamour and wealth that he saw. One thing amazed him the most. Every time the owner would press down on a small bell, immediately servants would enter the room with all kinds of delicacies and wonderfully tasty foods. When they finished the course, the rich man would again sound the bell, and again the servants would enter, clean off the table and then serve the next course.

He was fascinated by this magic bell. On his way home, he bought a bell just like that one. He came home and with great excitement, called for his wife and children to sit down at the table. He placed the bell on the table and proceeded to ring it as hard as he could, anticipating that any minute now, waiters will enter with platters of food.  But ring as hard as he would, nothing happened!

Angrily, he went back to the storekeeper and complained that he was cheated. "Why didn't you sell me the same exact bell that you sold the wealthy man?" "But it is exactly the same bell!" replied the storekeeper.  "What makes you think that it is not the same?"

He told the storekeeper the purpose for which he wanted the bell.  "How can this be the same bell, when in the rich man's house, every ring of the bell brought food to the table!  In my house, I rang and rang and not a morsel of food was brought to the table!"

The storekeeper replied, "The bell is worthless in and of itself. It doesn't prepare nor serve the food.  The wealthy man had prepared food and the waiters to serve the food beforehand.  The bell was only a reminder to the waiters that it was time to bring the food to the table. ..

“The same is with our many customs,” explained the Magid, "like dipping the Challah and apple in honey, wearing white on Yom Kippur, etc.  We must prepare ourselves beforehand, during the month of Elul, through the performance of mitzvot and good deeds, which act on our behalf to bring us a happy and healthy New Year.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA