Rosh HaShanah

This year Rosh Hashanah falls out on Shabbos and Sunday. We all know that on Shabbos we do not blow the Shofar. The Gemara writes the reason is because Chazal were afraid that one might carry the Shofar four amos in a public domain to fulfill the mitzvah of Shofar, thereby being mechalel Shabbos. Therefore, Chazal decreed to not blow the Shofar on Shabbos. The Gemara points out that although Chazal uprooted the mitzvah of blowing Shofar, we still fulfill “zichron teruah, remembering the teruah,” by reading the pesukim about teruah.

Rav Abahu asks, “why is the Shofar of a ram used for the mitzva?  Hashem tells us, ‘Blow before Me with a Shofar of a ram, so I will remember for your merit akeidas Yitzchak ben Avraham, and I will consider it as though you also offered yourselves before Me.’” Rav Schwab questions, how are we zoche on Shabbos to be considered as though we offered ourselves to Hashem if we do not blow the Shofar?

Rav Schwab suggests the following: By the akeidah, we find that Avraham was ready to perform the mitzvah of the akeidah by shechting his son Yitzchak. The Malach called out to Avraham and said, “do not send out your hand to the lad and do not do anything to him.” Yet, it is considered as though Yitzchak was actually sacrificed to Hashem. Similar to this, on Shabbos we are all ready and waiting to fulfill the mitzva of Shofar, but Chazal warn us, “do not blow the Shofar,” as there is a decree to not blow. Just as Hashem considered it as if Avraham brought Yitzchak as a korban, so too Hashem considers it as if we blew the Shofar – when Rosh Hashanah falls out on Shabbos. Also, since it is as though we blew the Shofar, we also have the zechus of the Shofar, and Hashem considers it as if we brought ourselves as a korban to Him!

By the korban of Rosh Hashanah it states “ועשיתם עולה, and you shall make yourselves an Olah-sacrifice,” unlike all other korbanos which state, “והקרבתם, and you shall offer.” On Rosh Hashanah we are meant to elevate and sanctify ourselves completely, to fulfill the will of Hashem.

May we become more shaleim in our avodas Hashem and be zoche to a kesiva v’chasima tova!