In the Davening of ראש השנה we don’t mention the fact that it is also ראש חודש. One of the reasons given is "לערבב השטן", to confuse the שטן, so he won’t try to prosecute us on this day.
This reason is also given to explain why we complete and restart reading the תורה on שמחת תורה instead of on ראש השנה, the start of the year; to confuse the שטן, so he won’t prosecute on ראש השנה.
Question
The שטן is a מלאך, and is certainly aware of the date on the calendar. Also, there so many other things we do that make it clear that it is ראש השנה. What does it mean to confuse the שטן?
Answer
Confusing the שטן means interfering with his prosecution, preventing him from being effective. The mention of ראש חודש would certainly add to our זכויות and inspiration on ראש השנה, and the same is true with completing and restarting the reading of the תורה. So when the שטן sees that we are missing these things, he doesn’t try so hard to prosecute.
Question
The fact is that we actually don’t do these things on ראש השנה. Why do we deprive ourselves of the benefit of ראש חודש and completing and restarting the תורה, just to confuse the שטן?
Answer
When a Yid realizes that his situation is so serious that he is being deprived of doing good things because there is a need to confuse the שטן, the deepest part of his heart is awakened, and he does תשובה in a most powerful way. The תשובה that comes about as a result of his not doing these is stronger than what he could have accomplished by doing them.
Further discussion: Which story about the Rebbe Rashab illustrates this point? (See אות ח in the שיחה)
The Rebbe’s explanation in the Sicha is lengthier, more detailed, and nuanced. This page includes only one point of the Sicha, as the heading indicates.
