Rabbi Leonard Cohen: Remembering to call out

By Rabbi Leonard Cohen

(Calgary) – The term describing Rosh Hashanah in the Torah (Vayikra 23:24) is Shabbaton Zichron Teruah Mikra Kodesh – a (time) of pause, of remembrance, of sounding the horns: a sacred occasion, a time to refrain from labour.

The wording is peculiar. What kind of pause? If the pause is from doing labour, then the starting word “Shabbaton” is redundant. If it is Yom Zikaron, a day of remembrance, what are we remembering? And what does sounding horns have to do with this remembrance?

According to the most well-known interpretation, that of Rashi, what we remember on Rosh Hashanah is the Akedah – Avraham’s binding of his son Yitzchak on Mt. Moriah. The shofar reminds us of Avraham’s demonstration of willing submission to Hashem, and Hashem’s intervention to substitute a ram for the sacrifice instead of the son.

A different interpretation is suggested by Haamek Davar.

There are three types of event in the Torah where horns (Chatzotzrot) are sounded: on festive celebrations, on the coronation of a king, and at a time of war.  The Shofar blowing on Rosh Hashana is meant to inspire thoughts and feelings associated with each of these occasions.

One time for sounding horns is on a festive holiday celebrations. “And on your joyous occasions—your fixed festivals and new moon days—you shall sound the trumpets…” (Bemidbar 10:10).  The image is one of jubilant ceremony, and the trumpting akin to the noise of a parade procession. Rosh Hashanah is a time to rejoice in the happiness of our lives: to come together as families and communities, to taste the sweetness of apples and honey, and to mark a renewal in our lives and in our connection to G-d.

A second time trumpets are sounded is at the coronation of a new monarch.  This is based on the phrase U’truat melech bo – “and the trumpeting for the king among them” – in Bamidbar 23:21.  The Tanakh describes the blowing of the Shofar at the coronation of kings Solomon, Avshalom and Yehu among others. Here, the symbolism is apt: Rosh Hashanah is the majestic day when we the Jewish people crown Hashem, and commit to serving Hashem, as our sole and true Leader.

Perhaps most significantly, trumpets are blown to rally the Jewish people at the outset of war. In Bamidbar 10:9, we read: ““When you are at war in your land against an aggressor who attacks you, you shall sound Teruot on the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God and be delivered from your enemies.” The blowing of the shofar is a call for Hashem’s strength and deliverance in the face of grave danger. The Chachamim point out that, in the event of battle, in a time of distress, we attain G-d’s support and accompaniment – provided that we, the people, call out for that aid.
The shofar calls during Rosh Hashanah, the Teruot and the Tekiot, serve as rallying calls just as they do in time of warfare – to beseech G-d to strengthen us, that we not despair of hope in the battles we face in our own lives.  The shofar reminds us to call out to Hashem for strength and deliverance.

What we are commanded to remember on Rosh Hashanah is the act of Teruah, calling out.  Rather than freeze in distress, we are reminded to pray, and to pray hard. Our responsibility, the first step in any engagement, is to call to Hashem for the help and strengthening we need.

The pause which we take is best described as one of mindfulness. For at least this one time of year, we take a momentary pause, to shift our mind’s eye away from the preoccupations and distractions of our lives. To simply focus and be present. To remember to call out for the help and support we need. To accept our limitations. To remember there is no shame in our vulnerability and need.  To remember that we are not alone.

Shana Tova u’metuka!

Rabbi Leonard Cohen is the leader of Kehilat Shalom Calgary.  For more information about Kehilat Shalom and its High Holiday services, visit www.kehilat-shalom.ca or email rabbi@kehilat-shalom.ca.