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8 | Harav Elchanan Adler
הידיב ןייאב בסנד ןאמ אלא חצונ אוה ןאמ ןיעדי ןנא תילו ןיידה לצא וסנכנש םינשל לשמ ןיבא ר"א
תילו ה"רב אוה ךורב שודקה ינפל םיגרטקמו ןיאב םלועה תומואו לארשי ךכ אייחוצנ אוהד ןיעדי ןנא
ונא ןדיב ןהיגורתאו ןהיבלולו אוה ךורב שודקה ינפלמ ןיאצוי לארשיש המב אלא חצנ ןאמ ןיעדי ןנא
.ןושארה םויב םכל םתחקלו םהל רמואו לארשיל ריהזמ השמ ךכיפל אייחוצנ ןוניא לארשיד ןיעדוי
Rabbi Avin said, It is like two people who came in front of the judge, and we
can’t know who is going to be vindicated; however, the person who carries a
scepter in his hands is known to be the victor. So too the children of Israel and
the nations of the world come in front of Hashem, and we don’t know who
wins. Once the Jewish people come out with their lulav and esrog, we know that
they’ve won. This is why Moshe tells the Jewish people: “Take for yourselves
on the first day [a lulav, esrog, etc.].”
Accordingly, the Netziv (Harchev Davar, Vay. 23:24) explains that Yamim Noraim
is a period when the Guardian Angels of the Nations of the World approach
the Ribono Shel Olam to challenge the favored status of Klal Yisrael. The Netziv
elaborates that this spiritual war is, in fact, a crucial facet of the judgment
of Rosh Hashana. There is, of course, an individual judgment that exists for
every single human being, Jew and non-Jew alike – “kol ba’ay olam ya’avrun
lefanecha kivnei maron.” But beyond that individual judgment, there is a war
which erupts in Heaven regarding the state of Knesses Yisrael. What is our
collective response to this celestial confrontation? How do we assert ourselves
against the spiritual forces that wish us harm? The Netziv explains that our
responsibility is to offer the special tefillos of malchiyos, zichronos and shofros.
Along with these, we sound the shofar to reinforce ourselves for the battle.
We may better appreciate the relationship between the tefillos of Rosh Hashana
and the nature of the “battle” by exploring the Torah’s description of the tense
confrontation that preceded the miracle of kerias Yam Suf. With the Egyptians
behind them in hot pursuit and the sea in front, Klal Yisrael’s very emergence as
a nation seemed to be in jeopardy. Chazal note that the showdown taking place
down on earth mirrored the celestial accusation of Egypt’s guardian angel
Uza, who declared before the Heavenly Court: “Ma nishtanu eilu me’eilu? Why are
[the Jews] treated differently than [their Egyptian counterparts]?” Weren’t
Bnei Yisrael also guilty of worshiping avoda zara in Egypt? Why are they worthy
of being saved?
Agudah Achasgudah Achas
A
Harav Elchanan Adler | 9
By splitting the Yam Suf, Hashem deflected Uza’s claim and did battle with
Egypt. In fact, the Torah repeatedly references war in connection with this
episode:םכל םחלי 'ד“ , Hashem shall make war for you” (Shm. 14:14);םחלנ 'ד יכ“
,םירצמב םהלFor Hashem is waging war for them against Egypt” (Shm. 14:25);
,המחלמ שיא 'ד“ Hashem is a Master of war” (Shm. 15:3). However, Hashem’s
waging war on behalf of Bnei Yisrael was preceded by their expression of
heartfelt tefilla –'ד לא לארשי ינב וקעציו“ , And Bnei Yisrael cried out to Hashem”
(Shm. 14:10). The Midrash (Shir HaShirim Rabba) notes that Hashem was
awaiting our tefillos, as the verse states:ךלוק תא ינעימשה“ , Let me hear your
voice, your heartfelt cries.” We were expected to pledge total allegiance to
Ha-Kadosh Baruch Hu, placing our complete trust in Him. Once we did that,
Hashem thwarted Uza’s challenge, split the sea, and drowned the Egyptians
in the Yam Suf.
The Chofetz Chaim often noted that everything that happens in the world at
large is intended as a message for Klal Yisrael. Tumultuous historical events
mirror a turbulence that is also raging in the heavens above. Often, before
Rosh Hashana, we receive reminders of the sorts of battles that are raging
in Heaven. These can come in the form of renewed threats from aggressive
nations against Israel and the United States, simmering tensions around
Israel’s borders, increased expressions of anti-semitism worldwide, or an
uptick of cases of a serious pandemic. We should see these as symptomatic of
parallel trends that are playing out in the celestial spheres.
Just as our heartfelt cries preceding kerias Yam Suf were an acknowledgment
of the precarious predicament that we faced then, so should our
tefillos on Rosh Hashana acknowledge our vulnerability on the world
stage as well as in the spiritual realms. Indeed, many of the tefillos
of Rosh Hashana – i.e. the yehi ratzon simanim recited on Rosh
Hashana night – speak about destroying our foes and adversaries –
וניאנוש ומתי ,ונביוא וקלתסיetc. The shofar serves as a reminder of the ongoing
battle, for which Hashem is prepared to fight on our behalf. What is expected
of us is to offer the accompanying tefillos from the depths of our hearts.
Maywe infuse our tekios and tefilos with a conscious recognition of our
vulnerabilities and utter dependence on the Ribono Shel Olam. May Hashem
continue to fight our battles, and bring about a victory in the form of a shenas
chayim ve’shalom.
Agudah Achas