| Rosh Hashana 5781 – Trust
The Hebrew word for security is Bitachon
The Hebrew word for trust is also Bitachon!
In all the surveys on the impact of Corona the greatest impact has been people feeling insecure. People are uncertain about their futures. Job insecurity. Food insecurity and health insecurity.
The Charity “The Health Foundation” on its website notes in a very recent survey that
“More than two-thirds of adults in the UK (69%) report feeling somewhat or very worried about the effect COVID-19 is having on their life. The most common issues affecting wellbeing are worry about the future (63%), feeling stressed or anxious (56%) and feeling bored (49%).”
The Jewish answer to insecurity has always been faith and trust in Hashem who is the True Provider.
Trust in God is our only security. That is why Bitachon (Faith/Trust) leads to Bitachon (Security).
The Key theme of Sukkot represented by the Mitvza of Sukkah is to rejoice and celebrate life despite our inherent human insecurities. We live 7/8 days in a Sukkah that represents the fragility of life. By looking up to the Sechach and allowing Hashem’s presence into our lives we can elevate our existence, connecting to the Infinity of the Divine presence and transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
This Rosh Hashana we have an opportunity to pray and reconnect with the Source of All Life.
King David wrote (we say this in our Daily Teffilot)
“Bless is the man who trusts (Yivtach) in Hashem and Hashem is his security (Mivtacho)”
The Shofar – a broken cry or triumphant call?
As we usher in the new year we sound the Shofar symbolising our coronation of Hashem as sovereign of creation.
There is a paradox in the musical notes we sound
The Teruah and Shevarim are broken sounds representing different types of crying. The wailing and a sobbing sound symbolises our brokeness and vulnerability before Hashem. The raw sound of the Teruah awakens us to introspect and we feel abashed in Gods presence.
Yet these sounds are sandwiched between two Tekiyah notes which are unbroken sounds. The Tekiayh is a triumphant sound very much in line with the coronation of a king.
How do we reconcile these opposite sounds?
The answer of course is that both are required and represent how we present ourselves before Hashem on this day of Judgement.
On the one hand we express our vulnerability and insecurities before “the One who knows the inner recesses of man’s heart”. King David wrote in Psalm 34 “The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, and He saves those of crushed spirit.”
But at the very same time the Tekiya teaches us that we must be confident in the outcome of the Day of Judgement.
Or put another way: Each of us has a soul which contains a Divine spark. If we would only realise how much power is contained within our souls we would believe in ourselves and our ability to overcome adversity and evolve into more refined and better people.
This Rosh Hashana lets tap into Trust and Faith that lies at the core of our souls
Let the Sound of the shofar – both the triumphant and broken notes- penetrate our hearts and
We can feel secure in the awareness that God nurtures every single creature with compassion and love.
Please God our prayers will usher in a new period of security in our lives and the world at large.
One final note. Even if you are unable to attend shul this year you can still connect.
As long as we approach Hashem with sincerity then : –
“The Lord is close to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” Psalm 145
May Hashem bless us all with a happy healthy and sweet new year.
Shabbat Shalom & Shanna Tova |
