B"H

Monday, Elul 16, 5776 / September 19, 2016 - Hakhel year

In two weeks, we will celebrate Rosh Hashana, which will bring in the New Year, 5777. The year 5776 was a leap year of 13 months, which is why the holidays come out late this year on the sivil calendar. The year, 5777 will be a regular 12 month, year.

The holiday of Rosh Hashana commemorates the beginning of the New Year. Although we say in the Rosh Hashana prayers, "This is the day which is the beginning of Your work," yet, Rosh Hashana is not celebrated on the anniversary of the first day of creation, rather on the sixth day of creation - the day in which Adam & Eve were created.

Q.Why did G-d select the day when Adam and Eve were created to signify the beginning of creation? 

A.The Midrash tells us that when Adam was created, he called out to the entire creation, "Let us kneel before G-d our maker." For only through the efforts of Adam, did the rest of creation realize and fulfill its purpose of giving praise and recognition to G-d their creator.

Our sages explain that G-d created the world "unfinished." It is up to mankind to complete the work of creation and thus become partners with G-d in His creation.

By establishing Rosh Hashana on the day when Adam and Eve were created, the Torah teaches us the importance of mankind in G-d’s plan of creation. It is up to us to safeguard and preserve the universe.

Our sages explain that G-d created all other living beings, such as fish, animals and birds, in multitudes. Only man (Adam) was created alone. This teaches us that it is incumbent upon each individual to partner with G-d in creation and do whatever one can to make the world a better place.

How can one person amongst billions of people make a difference? Maimonides states, "A person shall see the entire world on a scale with the good and bad equally weighed. One good deed will tip the balance to the good, while one bad deed will tip the scale to the bad." Just one deed by one person may make the difference for the entire world!  From this we can understand the great potential and the great responsibility which each of us carries.

Adam and Eve were created last in the order of creation. Our sages explain that G-d created everything before mankind so that they could immediately start their job in fulfilling G-d’s plan for them for the betterment of creation.

The first marriage ever, took place on the first Rosh Hashana, 5677 years ago. Adam and Eve, who were created on Rosh Hashana, were married on that very same day. They also had their children, Cain and Abel (Hevel), on that Rosh Hashana.  

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