Rabbi Professor Yitzchak Cohen Urges Deeper Meaning for Rosh Hashanah

Rabbi Professor Yitzchak Cohen, academic director of the Ono Academic College's law faculty, is calling for a return to the profound meaning of Rosh Hashanah, emphasizing that "crowning God" is not merely a prayer but a consciousness that should permeate daily life. In an interview with Channel 7 ahead of the holiday, Cohen explained that Rosh Hashanah offers an opportunity for a mental shift that can impact the entire year.

He elaborated that recognizing God's management of the world, even in the smallest details, leads to reduced anger, stress, and a lessened sense of personal burden. Cohen cited Maimonides' assertion that anger is akin to idolatry, stemming from the belief that events are random rather than divinely guided. This perspective, he argued, is crucial for navigating personal challenges and national complexities, such as election tensions or geopolitical threats from Iran.

Cohen stressed that this faith provides strength during difficult personal times, such as receiving serious medical news, not by negating personal responsibility but by fostering a life lived with faith rather than anxiety. The repeated recitation of kingship verses during Rosh Hashanah prayers serves as mental training to internalize this belief, transforming it from theory into lived reality.

Furthermore, Cohen stated that acknowledging God's sovereignty implies a personal responsibility as God's emissary. This sense of mission shifts focus away from personal shortcomings and comparisons, reducing pressure. Even mundane activities, like preparing a meal for Shabbat, can be imbued with spiritual significance when viewed through the lens of being God's representative.

Concluding the interview, Cohen urged listeners to carry this message throughout the year, highlighting that remembering God's governance and our role as emissaries can fundamentally alter our approach to everyday life, mortgages, work, and the general pressures of modern living. He summarized this by stating that truly internalizing God's management of the world and remembering our role as His emissaries transforms the entire year.