ROSH HASHANA 5769 DAY 1
WHO DESERVES OUR VOTE?
Good Yomtov. In a very short time from now, we will have the opportunity to choose and vote for the most powerful leader of the entire world. But think about it - why would ANYONE want that job?
When a single person I know gets sick, I can’t sleep. If any of my friends or family or children is, G-d forbid, in any type of difficult situation - it weighs on my mind all day. I would certainly not want to have to worry about millions or even billions of people and untold issues around the world.
On the international scene:
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The Iranians are trying to build a nuclear bomb.
- Al Qaeda is eliciting support all over the Middle East.
- The Russians are trying to forcibly maintain control over parts of Georgia.
- There is continued unrest in Pakistan and Afghanistan
And within our own country:
- The economy is on the brink of disaster,
- Inflation is high, and
- There are major problems with health care and education.
- Medicare is running out of money.
- We are creating bigger and bigger debts for our children.
None of these problems will be solved overnight - so I ask again - why would anyone agree to become a leader at such a difficult time in history?
Upon further consideration, I came up with two reasons why someone might agree to become a leader of the world and face all of the scrutiny and complaints that this job inevitably brings. Two reasons - no less and no more.
The first reason is …….
- 1. Power. Everyone likes having some power. For some it may mean being the driver instead of just being the passenger. For others, I guess, it could even mean being the driver of a town or a nation or even the entire planet Earth. This type of leader scares me.
The second reason is:
- 2. To fulfill a desire to make a difference. This is something we can all relate to. This is the impetus that urges people to give charity, volunteer to help others, and even choose certain careers, such as a nurse or maybe even a Rabbi. So if someone was truly kind in the greatest sense of the word, and they understood all of the problems that exist yet believed that our best days are still to come and that together we could make this world a better place, then this might be a valid reason for someone to seek our vote.
This is the type of leader we all need. And I know just which candidate exemplifies these qualities. This is the one candidate I choose to vote for and I hope you all do the same. Today, I encourage you to join me…… in voting for G-d.
In November, Americans will have the chance to choose a president “of the people, by the people”. Well, we Jews also get to choose our leader “of the people, by the people”. Voting is today. Right now. This is our chance to “Applaud for G-d”.
You see, G-d was not always the King of the world. He was not actually a King at all, until He created the world. G-d is much greater than just being a king. “King” or even “King of Kings” describes just one small characteristic of who G-d is.
But one day, G-d decided to create the world and to become its’ King. Why? Because G-d had great plans for a wonderful world in which everyone would treat each other with respect and caring and everyone would fulfill their Divine Mission and their role in creation.
But, and this is very important, by the rules that G-d set up, He doesn’t want to be a dictator. He doesn’t want to just seek power and control of our lives and of the world. He only agrees to be our King, if each year on Rosh Hashanah, we vote for Him, choose Him, elect Him as our King and coronate Him as our King by blowing the Shofar.
You see, without our choosing G-d, He would still be All-Powerful. He could still be a ruler or a dictator, but not a “king”. To be a king - requires that a nation accepts His rule.
But who would want to be King over a world gone mad? Between all of the craziness going on in Russia and Europe and the Middle East and Asia and even here in America, why should G-d not just throw in the towel and give up on this idea of a better world with peace and brotherhood and spiritual bliss?
It is a good question. In fact, our Sages tell us that each year on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, G-d pulls back from the world and wonders the same thing. Should He go through another year in this relationship as our King, especially after all the things we did wrong since last Rosh Hashanah? Or, maybe He should forget the whole experiment and go back to just being G-d, without the hassles of this world with all of its issues.
Imagine a marriage in which one of the spouses has betrayed his or her partner in the worst possible way. Imagine that they did something so bad that the very essence of that relationship is now in doubt. The trust, upon which the marriage is founded, has been shaken. Can this marriage be saved?
In our relationship with G-d, it took only 39 days since we were “married” and received the 10 commandments until we sinned with the Golden Calf. Moses poured out his heart in prayer and all of the Jews did Teshuva and begged G-d to renew this relationship once more. It took much pleading and sincerity but finally G-d agreed to renew that relationship again and presented a second set of the Ten Commandments to our ancestors.
Well, in a very similar way, each year on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, G-d pulls back from the world to consider: Is this relationship worth saving. Each year, when we gather in shul and blow the shofar - at that moment G-d accepts, once again, to be our King and Lover again.
It isn’t about fixing what we have done wrong - next week we will have Yom Kippur for that. Today is just the two sides saying this relationship is worth saving. The Jews say “who is like you among all of the heavens, O’ G-d” and G-d responds, “Who is like my nation Israel, a singular nation on Earth”. The relationship has been secured. Old issues will not be raised again. Love, Trust, Hope, and Faith in one another has replaced the doubts and an unconditional love is now kindled between us.
This is what is happening at this very moment in the heavens. As we now resolve to “buy into His plan for the future” and blow the Shofar to coronate Him as our King. This is when He accepts to be our King again and accept the leadership of the world for an additional period of one year.
In addition to blowing the shofar we read a portion of the Torah to express our commitment to our special relationship with G-d. What portion is chosen? Is it the Ten Commandments? No, it is not! Is it the Shema Yisroel depicting our faith in the oneness of G-d? No, it is not! Instead, we read an amazing story of a woman named Sarah who had a baby at the age of 90.
You may have heard of Patricia Rashbrook who recently, at the age of 62, had a baby boy. Someone commented that after she brought the baby home from the hospital a number of her friends came over and asked to see the baby. However, she refused. She said the baby was sleeping and only when it woke up and started to cry would she let them see the baby. “Please,” they asked, “we will be quiet. Can’t we just take a peek?”
“No,” Mrs. Rashbrook responded, “you will have to wait until the baby wakes up and cries….., because I can’t remember where I left him.”
My question is: why do we read about Sarah having a baby on Rosh Hashanah? Granted it is a wonderful miracle to have a baby at the advanced age of 90, but there are numerous miracles which G-d has performed for our people. Why this story over all others?
Rashi explains that Sarah named her son, Yitzchok because it means to laugh. “Kol Hashomaya Yitchak Li - all who hear of it will laugh with me”. It does say laugh at her but rather laugh WITH her. You see, according to Rashi, at the same time that Sarah had her miraculous baby, numerous other barren women were remembered with her and they too gave birth and were happy alongside Sarah. This is the first occasion upon which much of the world looked to the Jew and took inspiration and comfort and joy from them.
You see, our role is not just to love G-d for ourselves, but to be a light unto the nations and share our faith and belief in G-d with the world around us. Because of our special connection with G-d, we are urged to be a living example to the entire world and all of its nations.
However, read on in the portion and you will find an obvious question. After Sarah has her son, she decides that Yishmael is a bad influence on Yitzchok and tells her husband to send the boy away. So while we are thinking about sharing our love and faith with the world around us, Sarah says “Get rid of Yishmael - he is an unsafe influence on my son, Yitzchok”.
What happened to Sarah working alongside her husband in bring monotheism to all people of all faiths? What happened to Tikkun Olam and showing kindness and sensitivity to all people?
Sarah explains that the reason that she wants Yishmael gone is so he will not inherit from Abraham along with Yitzchok. Again, is this fair? And why worry about an inheritance now when Abraham will live another 72 years? And even if she does throw out Yishmael, does she think that will keep him from showing up at Abraham’s death to claim an inheritance? Everyone knows: Where there is a will - there is a relative!
I heard a story of an elderly millionaire whose hearing started to return after being deaf for five years. His doctor mentioned how happy his family must be that he can hear again. “Are you kidding”, he said, “I didn’t tell them that I can hear again. I have already revised my will 3 times”.
The Kli Yakor explains that Sarah was actually interested in the spiritual inheritance of Abraham. She wanted her son to carry on the bond of love that G-d promised to Abraham.
Of course she wanted Tikun Olam - that we all work together to make the world a better place, but she wanted the real Tikkun Olam which is changing the world to know G-d as our King. It means choosing to have faith and to cherish the bond of love which he forged with us. So Sarah did whatever it took so that Yitzchok would carry on the spiritual legacy of his father Abraham and indeed the entire world benefitted from it.
And the Midrash says that per plan indeed worked. Even Yishmael changed for the better. 35 years later, Yishmael accompanies Abraham and Isaac as they go to the Akeida.
35 years after that, he follows the coffin of his father with respect and admiration for Yitzchok who has continued in his father’s footsteps. And, the Medrash tells us, that Yishmael ultimately does teshuva and dies a religious and righteous man.
How did that happen that the boy who liked to shoot arrows at Yitzchok becomes religious in his later years?
The answer is:
- when we live up to our potential,
- when we cherish the bond of love with G-d,
- when we follow his laws and fulfill His commandments,
then even Yishmael is moved, and the entire world becomes better, thanks to our positive influence.
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As we prepare to blow the Shofar and coronate G-d as our King - we should take heed that Rosh Hashana reminds us that the way to do Tikkun Olam and change the world is by changing ourselves first, and then to change the world to be a better and more G-dly place.
- As we prepare to blow the Shofar and coronate G-d as our King - we should take heed that Rosh Hashana challenges us to be that son or daughter who cherishes our relationship of love with G-d and walks in the ways of those who preceded us. And finally,
- As we prepare to blow the Shofar and coronate G-d as our King - we should take heed that Rosh Hashana challenges us to renew our commitment to G-d and renew our bond of Torah and Mitzvos.
May the upcoming year be one in which we open our hearts and minds to G-d and then one in which G-d reciprocates and blesses us with an abundance of all goodness both spiritual and material. May we soon merit to hear the sounding of the great shofar announcing the arrival of the Moshiach and the era of peace, health, brotherhood, and a knowledge of G-d for all, and let us say, AMAIN
Tags: Coronation, Relationship with G-d, Tikun Olam, Voting for G-d
