Jewish Teachings Connect Past, Present, and Future for Rosh Hashanah

The upcoming Rosh Hashanah holiday, which falls on a Saturday this year, is being framed as a period of introspection and renewed commitment to life and faith. Orna Eilon draws parallels between the weekly Torah portion of Nitzavim, the observance of Shabbat, and the sounding of the shofar to illustrate this theme.

Nitzavim, read shortly before Rosh Hashanah, begins with the verse, "You stand today, all of you, before the Lord your God." Eilon explains that this signifies the Jewish people standing before God with their entire history, encompassing both triumphs and failures. The past is not erased but serves as a foundation for present actions and future choices, echoing the verse, "I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse, and you shall choose life, that you may live, you and your offspring."

Similarly, the Shabbat Kiddush, which commemorates the creation of the world and the exodus from Egypt, serves as a reminder of foundational principles. This remembrance is not meant to keep people in the past but to reconnect them with their roots and their relationship with God. The prayer for Rosh Hashanah also merges past and present, stating, "You remember the deeds of the world" and "This day the world was created; this day all creatures stand in judgment."

The shofar, described as a "remembrance of the blast," transforms abstract memory into a tangible call to action. The Torah text explains that the shofar is needed as an "awakener" for humans, who are material beings. This year, the unique timing of Rosh Hashanah falling on Shabbat means the shofar will not be sounded on the first day, but only on the second. This separation emphasizes two distinct phases: the first day allows for reflection on the past and future, standing before God as in Nitzavim, while the second day's shofar blast urges the translation of thought into action and the choice of a life of truth, faith, and service to God.