Staying Royal After the Yomim Nora'im
There is a interpretation on a familiar phrase from the daily Shemone esray, where we describe Hashem as: "Melech Ozer uMoshi'a uMagen" – "The King who helps, saves, and protects." These four titles, they explain, are not just poetic praises; they actually reflect the spiritual journey we take during the month of Tishrei.
"Melech" – The King
This clearly corresponds to Rosh Hashanah, the day we crown Hashem as our King. Our tefillos are focused not on personal needs, but on proclaiming Hashem's sovereignty over the world. "Meloch al kol ha'olam kulo bichvodecha." We enter the new year not with lists of requests, but with the mission to accept His rule over our lives.
"Ozer" – The One who Helps
During the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, Hashem is close. "Dirshu Hashem b'himatzo"—these ten days are when Hashem reaches out to help us return to Him. Teshuvah is never easy. Changing deeply ingrained habits, repairing relationships, fixing what we've broken—it's hard. But during these days, Hashem gives us extra strength. He helps. He guides. He "assists" our efforts with siyata d'shmaya.
"uMoshi'a" – The One who Saves
On Yom Kippur, we are granted a tremendous salvation. We walk into Ne'ilah weighed down, and we walk out lighter. We've been forgiven, uplifted, purified. "Lifnei Hashem tit'haru." There is no greater salvation than being given a fresh start, free from the burden of sin.
"uMagen" – The Protector
This final word corresponds to Sukkos, when we leave behind the security of our homes and dwell in a fragile sukka, covered only by sechach. With no solid roof above our heads, we are surrounded not by bricks and locks, but by Hashem's protection. "Ki yitzpeneini b'Suko"—"For He will hide me in His Sukkah on the day of trouble."
But there's another layer here. After reaching such great heights during the Yamim Nora'im, we need to protect our spiritual gains. That's what Sukkos does. It surrounds us with mitzvos, joy, and holiness, allowing the inspiration of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to take root. It gives us space to hold onto what we've accomplished and not let it slip away.
On Shemini Atzeres, we begin saying, "Mashiv haRuach uMorid haGeshem" — "He makes the wind blow and brings the rain." I heard from Rav Eliyahu Mansour, that after Tishrei ends, many people "return the ruach" — they let go of all the spiritual energy they had — and instead "bring down the geshem" they fall back into physicality, routine, and distraction. We can all relate.
The challenge, then, is not just to grow during Tishrei, but to hold on. To carry the ruach into the rest of the year. That's the work of "uMagen" spiritual protection and preservation.
There's a story told about Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt"l. After Yom Kippur, one of his students approached him and said, "Rebbi, I feel like a malach! After all that davening, the fasting, the kedushah—I just feel totally uplifted."
Rav Shlomo Zalman looked at him kindly and said, "That's wonderful. But I'll be more impressed if you feel like a malach two weeks from now."
The real measure of inspiration isn't what we feel during the moment, it's what we carry with us afterward.
