Rabbis Debate Joy vs. Awe on Rosh Hashanah

A recent lecture by Rabbi Natan Rotman explores a fundamental debate within Jewish tradition regarding the proper emotional response on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The discussion centers on reconciling the "day of judgment" aspect with the "coronation of the Creator" aspect.

Rabbi Rotman highlights two opposing viewpoints. On one hand, Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna (the Gra) emphasized joy and celebration during the shofar blasts, likening it to the people of Israel rejoicing upon the coronation of King Saul. This perspective views the holiday as a celebration of God's kingship, which the people willingly accept. The Gra believed that true joy in God's sovereignty is essential for the coronation to be meaningful.

Conversely, Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, a prominent figure in the Mussar movement, and Rabbi Isaac Luria (the Ari), a key Kabbalist, advocated for a response of awe, trepidation, and even weeping during the shofar's sound. Rabbi Salanter, in particular, focused on the profound personal reckoning that occurs on Rosh Hashanah, where each individual is remembered before God. He advised focusing on loved ones to foster a sense of responsibility and open one's heart to the judgment, rather than being overwhelmed by personal fear.

Rabbi Rotman suggests that these seemingly contradictory approaches are not mutually exclusive but rather represent different facets of the holiday's observance. He posits that the joy associated with accepting God's kingship (Malchuyot) and the awe related to personal remembrance and judgment (Zichronot) can be integrated. The lecture draws on various biblical and Talmudic sources to illustrate how both joy and a solemn awareness of judgment are integral to a complete observance of Rosh Hashanah, ultimately leading to a deeper connection with God.