B"H
Monday, Elul 15, 5781 / August 23, 2021
Rosh Hashana is in exactly two weeks from tonight – beginning Monday night, September 6.
Q. On Rosh Hashana we blow 100 Shofar sounds. The first thirty sounds are blown after the Torah reading. Why are they done from the Bimah (the altar), the place where the Torah is read?
A. One of the reasons for the blowing of the Shofar is to remind us of the special day when G-d gave us the Torah, which was accompanied by the sound of the Shofar. It reminds us that we should adhere to the ways of the Torah. Because the sounding of the Shofar is a reminder of the Giving of the Torah, we blow the Shofar on the Bimah - the place where the Torah was just read.
Q. The Shofar is sounded in three stages. First, after the Torah reading. Then, during the silent Musaf-Amida prayer and again when the cantor repeats the Musaf prayer. Why is there a “long sound,” called, “Tekiah Gedolah” at the conclusion of each of these three segments?
A.As mentioned, the Shofar reminds us of the Giving of the Torah. Before giving the Torah, G-d told Moshe to warn the Jewish people not to ascend or even touch the mountain during the Giving of the Torah; “Only when the Shofar sounds a long, drawn out blast may they ascend the mountain” (Exodus 19:13). Just like the Giving of the Torah ended with the drawn out blast, so too, each segment of the Shofar blowing ends with a long blast.
Q. Why is itcustomary to eat fish at the Rosh Hashana meal?
A. The Torah tells us that at the time of creation, G-d blessed the fish with a special blessing to be “fruitful and multiply.” Children are the greatest blessing we can ask for. Every blessing in the Torah which G-d gave to the Jewish people includes a blessing to be fruitful – a blessing for children. On Rosh Hashana, when we ask G-d that He grant us a year of blessing, we eat fish, which is distinguished with the blessing of being fruitful, as a symbolic gesture that we, too, should be fruitful and multiply.
Q. Why is it customary that the Rosh Hashana Chalot (breads) are shaped round?
A. One reason is that on Rosh Hashana we crown G-d as the King of the Universe. The round Chalah symbolizes the shape of a crown.
Another reason: On Rosh Hashana G-d judges the universe. The round Chalah represents the shape of the world which is judged on this day.
Q. All year we dip the Chalah in salt. Why do we dip the Chalah in honey on Rosh Hashana?
A.Dipping the chalah in honey, which is sweet, is our way of requesting G-d to judge us favorably and grant everyone a sweet New Year.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
& SHANA TOVA – A HAPPY HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR