Accepting the yoke of heaven...

There is a famous question: being that Rosh Hashana is a 'Yom Tov' (holiday), why is Hallel (a collection of psalms said as praise and thanks to Hashem on holidays) not recited?

The Gemara answers- since the 'books of life and death' are opened in front of Hashem, since all of mankind is being judged on this day, how is it possible for someone to be able to sing praises to Hashem with the proper level of joy? Despite Rosh Hashana being a wonderful holiday, the awe of the day is too great for people to be able to sing praise to Hashem with the joy necessary for reciting Hallel.

However, the Chofetz Chaim asks in the Mishna Berura (584:1), we be should properly joyful! Being that we are confident that we will be judged meritoriously and have a successful judgement, we should have tremendous happiness at our receiving a wonderful decree for the new year!

The Gemara in fact instructs all Jews to leave shul and go 'eat, drink and be happy' in their confidence in the kindness and goodness of Hashem that Hashem will judge them favorably! If so, the Chofetz Chaim asks, why shouldn't we say Hallel!?

The Chofetz Chaim answers that we can only be confident in Hashem's judging us for a good year, if we are frightened from the impending judgement.

Much like someone who goes to human court, by approaching the judge with humility, trepidation and awe, the person can expect to be judged more favorably. If someone were to saunter into the courtroom and display a lack of reverence and gravity for the proceedings and what can happen to them, that is a sure way to encourage a harsh and more unfavorable judgement.

Why is this so?

When someone has trepidation and reverence for a court proceedings, and similarly when someone approaches Rosh Hashana with such gravity, the person is expressing, and thereby further inculcating in themselves the authority before that which they are trembling. Someone who properly reveres and has awe for the judge, who is a representative of a body of law which he is enforcing, that is both a sign as well as an exercise in this person now being more submissive to the dictates of that law.

It is therefore not merely a 'power trip' or favoritism which will encourage leniency in judgement, but it is quite deserving and appropriate.

The main goal of the day of Rosh Hashana, the day of judgement, is to accept upon ourselves the 'yoke of Heaven'. To recognize on a deeper and more profound level the authority of Hashem in this world, as the Creator of the world, as the Judge of the world and whose word we must adhere to with exactness.

In so doing, the person makes themselves someone who will be more faithful to Hashem, His command and His will, and therefore is someone who is now rightfully deserving of a good judgement.

Wishing everyone a sweet and happy new year,

כתיבה וחתימה טובה

א גוט געבענטשט יאר

Rabbi Eli Meir Kramer

Rabbi Pinchos Scharf