THE BEGINNING OF GREATNESS
(From last year’s sermon on Rosh Hashanah
At Chabad of Peachtree City)
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a calendar event: The calendar changes. Jewish people scramble for a new Jewish calendar so they know when the Jewish holidays will occur in the coming year. As with every New Year on any calendar, the change naturally motivates people to focus on change.
Rosh Hashanah, of course, is infinitely more than a simple calendar change. It is part of the “High” Holidays. It is a highlight of the year, not merely a date on which the calendar ends or begins. The change people feel on Rosh Hashanah is because of its special energy. This energy evokes deep feelings within so many. It stirs the soul.
And it makes sense: Historically, Rosh Hashanah is the day on which Adam and Eve, the first human beings, were created. It is Rosh Hashanah, the New Year, because it is the anniversary of the creation of mankind. It is the date during which each member of the human race has the chance to look back towards how goals have been achieved and to the future as to how much more each one can do.
On Rosh Hashanah, the creation of the human being is a major focus.
The Torah reading on both days of Rosh Hashanah, however, does not focus on the creation of the humans. Rather, it tells the story of the miraculous birth of the patriarch Isaac, which, according to the Sages, was promised on Rosh Hashanah. The Haftorah, the “after portion” of the Torah portion, tells the story of the birth of the prophet Samuel, whose mother, Chanah, persistently would not give up the merit of having a child. Her determination was blessed with success.
The prayers and the Torah readings, then, direct one’s attention to the story and the advent of three people: Adam (and Eve), Isaac, and Samuel.
The stories of how those three people began their lives provide fascinating perspectives for the focus of Rosh Hashanah.
Adam: When man was created, the Almighty “settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and to guard it.”(B’raishis (Genesis) 2:15.) Man’s focus was to forge a relationship with the details of this physical world, working it, preserving it, and enjoying it bounty.
At the same time, mankind is never to forget who created him or her, who created the Garden, and who makes everything happen. It is expected that man will forge relationships with the world, fellow man, and with the One who makes it all happen.
This is a central message of Rosh Hashanah while focusing on the creation of Adam: Relationship.
Once, on a Sunday morning, I was driving to New York for a wedding. Snow began to fall when I was on the outskirts of Richmond, Virginia, and I experienced minor car trouble. When I arrived at the repair shop, they told me that I was not the only one with car trouble that morning, and it would take up to five hours to repair.
I was in despair. How would I make it to the wedding and to all the other events scheduled for later that evening? My cries fell on deaf ears. I then approached the fellow at the counter and said: “Is it okay for me to pray my morning prayers here? Before you say anything,” I continued, “I strap black straps to my arm and head, and cover myself in a white sheet.” As the fellow stared at me, fumbling for something to respond, I said: “There is a little room on the side. Perhaps I should use that room.” “Oh, that’s the manager’s room, but he’s out today. Go ahead.”
The room had a big window, opening onto the workshop. Many vehicles, including mine, were present. I donned my Tallis, wrapped my Tefillin, and began to pray. Early in the prayers, as I stood where appropriate, I looked up. Every single worker in that workshop was staring directly at me… Praying, I turned back to my business at hand. Within fifteen minutes, there was a knock at my door. The guy at the counter walks in, and says: “Sir, your car is ready. You may leave right now…”
All I did was forge a relationship with the Almighty by doing the right thing. He took care of the rest. I made it to the wedding that evening and to the rest of my plans.
On Rosh Hashanah, it is time for everyone to examine how the relationship is going. First and foremost on the list is the relationship with the Creator.
Isaac: Sarah gave birth to Isaac when she was ninety years old. Her husband, the patriarch Abraham, was 100 years old. They were both well past the childbearing age (Gen. 18:12), yet, a pure miracle occurred, and a son, an heir, was given to them.
This is the message of Isaac’s birth: Miracles can and do happen.
It was quite a few years following the Holocaust. On a plane to Israel, one man had just concluded his morning prayers. He offered the man seated next to him the opportunity to perform this duty, instead, the man turned to him and said: “When they took my youngest son and shoved him to the left in Auschwitz, I have no further use for Him”…
Before Yom Kippur, Shlomo bumped into the survivor again. He said, “Listen, I know you are angry with G-d. But your son, what did he do that you refuse to recite a prayer in his memory?” A few moments passed, and the survivor promised to attend services, for the first time since Europe, on Yom Kippur.
At the appropriate time, at the Yizkor service time, the survivor turned to the cantor and asked him to recite a memorial prayer for his son, Pinchas ben Moshe.
“What is his name again?” asked the cantor. “Pinchas ben Moshe” came the repy.
“Tateh, Tateh (father, father),” cried the cantor, “I have been waiting for you for so long!”
On Rosh Hashanah it is time for everyone to examine something miraculous about their existence, and pray to connect to the Creator to continue the miracle.
Samuel: Chanah, Samuel’s mother was barren: “G-d had closed her womb.” (1 Samuel 1:6.) Although her husband, who loved her, suggested that she give up hope of having a child, she would not. She prayed her heart out in the Temple, and pledged that, should she have a child, “I will ensure that he is devoted to G-d all the days of his life.” (1:11.) Her determination won out; she gave birth to Samuel.
This is the message of Samuel’s birth: Never give up.
This is the story of Chabad throughout the world. An energy and a focus of determination and creation. Giving birth to renewed inspiration across the globe. This is also the story of our own Chabad of Peachtree City: Persistence, determination, and not giving up.
On Rosh Hashanah it is time for everyone to examine how determined and focus they are. It is time to resolve never to give up on goals, on dreams and on getting it done.
There is another element when looking into the lives of these aforementioned three – Adam, Isaac and Samuel – and how their lives continued with an extraordinary focus on the other person.
Adam: It is taught in the Midrash that Adam noticed that an important Jewish character would be introduced to the world, but would be destined to die very soon thereafter. His name: King David. Adam asked the Almighty to take years from his own life and bestow them on David. Adam, who was going to live for a thousand years, died at the age of 930. David died at the age of 70.
Adam, although he had plenty to spare, sacrificed years of his very life for another person.
Isaac: The Torah presents Isaac as one who dug wells. (B’raishis (Genesis) chapter 26). By digging wells, one wishes to remove the externalities and “dirt” of another, and to focus only on what lies deep down: clear, pure, life-giving water.
Isaac wished to see the other as a wellspring of clean, nourishing life.
Samuel: This prophet did not sit still. He would travel throughout the Land of Israel to bring inspiration and comfort to all. (1 Samuel 7:15.) This was so pronounced that, as the book of Samuel puts it, he became old before his time, and passed away at the young age of 52! (See 1 Samuel 8:1.)
It is not merely the way these three heroes began their lives, but also what they did with their lives: Sacrifice, seeing only good, and tirelessly devoting their lives for the benefit of others.
On Rosh Hashanah, as each individual learns from the origins of Adam, Isaac and Samuel, and examines his or her relationships, looks to Heaven for miracles, and resolves to be determined by consistently never giving up, one also focuses on how these three devoted, dedicated and sacrificed themselves to help and be there for others.
Mrs. Lew, together with Mussy and her husband Mendel Groner and their children Chanah and Levi, together with Sholom Ber, Chanah, Dovid, Faygie, Leah, Mendel, Raizy, Zalman and Peninah, join me in wishing all of you a Shanah Tovah Umesukah – a good and sweet year. May this coming year bring each of you good health and prosperity, both material and spiritual, Nachas from your children and grandchildren, much success in all your endeavors, and may it be a peaceful year.
SUMMARY: Three individuals received their start on Rosh Hashanah: Adam, with his relationship and sacrifice; Isaac, with his miracle and outlook; Samuel, with his determination and devotion.