Rosh Hashanah - 5777

Rosh Hashanah - 5777

Rabbi Hal Miller

From where do we know that one says kingship, remembrance and shofaros?

R'Eliezer says: for it is written [Vayikra 23:24] "A rest day, a remembrance

with teruah sounding, a holy convocation." ... From where that one says

Kingship? It was taught in a Baraisa: Rebbi says: I am Hashem your G-d, and

then "in the seventh month", this is Kingship. [Rosh Hashanah 32a]

During the mussaf davening on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we have three

special sections in the middle of the Shemoneh Esrei: Malchuyos (Kingship),

Zichronos (Remembrance), and Shofaros. What do these mean?

In simple terms, Malchuyos refers to the sanctity of the day; Zichronos involves

proclaiming faith in the One G-d; Shofros is a re-acceptance of the yoke of Torah

and anticipation of final salvation.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks describes Malchus as "the anniversary of the day when G-d

created the universe and thus became its Sovereign." He notes that, in addition to

acknowledging G-d as "King of Israel", it also applies to the concept that "His majesty

will be recognized by all humanity." Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov says that Malchus is to

"acknowledge G-d's creation of all existence, His sovereignty over the entire world,

and our eternal acceptance of His dominion."

Zichronos is closely tied. Although many believe that the remembrance is applied to

us, that we should remember our Creator, Rabbi Sacks says that " it is the day He

remembers our lives and those of our ancestors, and we pray to be judged favorably,

if not for our sake then for theirs." Rabbi Kitov gives us a list of ways that G-d has

remembered His people:

- Sarah, Rachel, and Chanah were granted remembrance because they were barren

- Yosef was freed from Egyptian prison

- the redemption from Egypt began and bondage ceased

Shofaros is the sound of Jewish freedom. Rabbi Sacks writes that it is the

"sound of tears and hope, warning and celebration." Rabbi Kitov give us the "purpose

of sounding is to arouse G-d's compassion for Israel." He adds that "acceptance of the

yoke of Torah as if it were once again being given amidst thunder and lightning and

mighty shofar blasts. It is the anticipation of final salvation."