rosh hashana 5766

Rosh Hashanah 5766

A year for personal redemption

As we approach the New Year, a need for self-reflection and preparation becomes imperative. Not only to reflect upon the magnitude of the great and awesome day as it approaches, but as well to become a proper receptacle to receive all that "Rosh Hashanah" the head of the year has to offer. It is thus upon us to reflect upon the events of the pass year and see what lessons for self-improvement can be taken from it. Looking back to the events of this past year we saw terrible images of destruction with hurricanes both abroad and here in the states. Nature disasters, which we as Jews believe are direct, acts of g-d. We too witnessed acts of violence between men by men in the ongoing wars, battles and political struggles through out the world, which too are all part of divine providence. However to us Jews the most heart breaking images of all, where of Jews forcible removing Jews from their homes in order to appease world opinion and to make peace with Arabs. Worse even than that, is the fact that this act alone has strengthened the hand of terrorist around the world and weakened the safety and security of Eretz Yisroel our Holy Land.
When looking to improve the world our rabbis tell us "Keshot Atzmocha V'achar Kach KeShot Acherim"- "correct yourself first and then correct another". It is told in the name of Rabbi Menechem Mendel of Kotzk who said; "when I was young I wished to changed the world, when I got older, I said I will change my "shtettal" village where I live, then I thought let me at least change my family, however in the end I said to myself "halevai" if only I could even change myself".
At first this story told over in the name of a tzaddik seems to be one of self-defeat; first he believed he would conquer the world and in the end he gave up even upon himself. Upon deeper reflection, we can possible explain the words of Reb Mendel of Kotzk, that he indeed reached the true meaning of our sages who said "correct your self first" for by correcting yourself, you correct the whole world as well. As the Talmud teaches us "Olam kotton zeh Ha'adam"- "A small world this is man".
Because Man is a microcosm of all creation. All that is in creation and in the universe in a large and grand scale is also found in man in a minute and small scale. Man too mirrors and reflects the nature of the world, as man behaves or misbehaves the world changes and responds in kind.
It is written " Gam Ha'olam Nossan B'lebo Shel Adam"- G-d has put the world in Man's heart. The state of the world depends on the behavior of man. Each and every act that man does effects the direction of the world. This is echoed by the Rambam's teaching "Ha'Olam Shakol" the world must be constantly viewed as a scale that is equally balanced between good and evil. Hence man must view himself at each and every moment in time, as he is about to act, as if this personal individual act will tip the scale in either direction for good or the opposite, directly affecting the judgment of the world.
Possible this is what the Kotzker was trying to teach us i.e. that in order change creation we must first change ourselves for the better. We must not think that the only way to change the world is by going out into it but also when we change ourselves inside we change the world as well. By making even small changes for the better in our own behavior we too have changed the world for the better as well.
We do this in two ways first because we are part of the larger creation, when a small part of creation changes for the better, the whole world at large is part of this change as well. Yet even more so because g-d has put the world in man's heart he has the ability to affect the world not only as a small part of it but as its very heart and soul. As we are taught. " Ner Hashem Neshamas Adam"-Man is the light and candle of G-d; he is the Neshama-soul of the world. Internal changes of man for the better, is a soul-full and spiritual change for the entire world.
This idea of man being the catalyst of change for all creation must affect us through out the year but in particularly on Rosh Hashanah. In the simplest sense the high holy day being the day of judgment for all creation and one of the ways we illicit a good and sweet year from g-d for ourselves is tifilla-prayer, we must as well too include in our prayers not only our needs but the needs of all creation. Also on a practical level this past year has taught us well of the power of evil man can and does inflict on man, certainly the power of good that man can do for man is even greater.
In conclusion as each and every one of us stands before G-d on Rosh Hashanah with a list of what we want G-d to grant us this year, we must ask for the world as well. Besides our own list we must make a list of the needs of the Jewish people and the world. As in our personal list for some of us the list is long for others it is short. For some the lists seems to contain the same request as last year for others the list seems to have shortened or become longer for positive or G-d forbid negative reasons. The list of the world too seems to have some of the same needs as last year and yet some new needs or old ones have now taken on a greater urgency then ever before i.e. peace and prayers for geula-redemption.
The world of our parents had hoped to create for us is not yet here. Their hopes and dreams for a better future for their children and grandchildren is not as clear as it was thought to be. Terrorism, instability in Eretz Yisroel and the vices and temptations of the modern era that tear at our family structure and Jewish education make the need for G-d's help more needed then ever before. It is also time we must recognize that the future of the world on a global scale and the future of our personal live and families are intertwined with each other. Our lives cannot be at true peace and complete satisfaction if the rest of the Jewish world and the entire world are in turmoil and disarray or even if another single Jew is in need.
Please this year as you pray for yourself and your families pray for the land of Israel and for the entire world. Please remember that one act done in the privacy of your home is more then an individual's action but a public act that can change the world. If this act is a good deed it can change the world to good achieving from a G-d a good and sweet year for yourselves and all of creation and even usher in the redemption. May it be g-d's will that we merit that the year 5765 be the final year of exile and the year 5766 be the first year of redemption speedily in our times. Amen