57. Reb Moshe Chaim of Slonim zt'l would tell people who were very scared of the Yomim Norai'm, "It isn't a band of thieves who sit in the Heavenly court. It is our Father, and we can trust that He will save His children."
There was a bachur who was terrified of the judgment of Rosh Hashanah. The Chazon Ish zt'l asked the bachur, "Why don't we say Tashlich when Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbos?" The bachur repeated the reason brought in the Mishnah Berurah (583:8). It is because people carry their machzorim to Tashlich, and on Shabbos, one cannot carry. The Chazon Ish told the bachur, "For you, the problem isn't only carrying the machzor. I see you're carrying a heavy burden on your shoulders."
58. Sadness draws strict judgment on oneself. Therefore, according to the Chasam Sofer, it is important to be happy on Rosh Hashanah, and then we will be judged with compassion and mercy.
It states (Nechemyah 2:1-2) ..."It happened in the month of Nisan, the twentieth year of King Artachshasta... I carried the wine and gave it to the king. I had never before appeared downcast in his presence. So the king said to me, 'Why is your face downcast? You aren't ill. This can only signify that there is evil in your heart [and you are planning to rebel against me]. I became very afraid." Why did the king think that Nechemyah wanted to harm him? Why was he so shocked to see that he had a sad face? Isn't it normal for people to be sad once in a while? Didn't the king know that people have ups and downs and experience mood swings?
But the answer is that when one is in the king's palace, everything he wants is before him, and he can also request anything he needs, so there is never a reason to be sad. This is why, when the king saw that he was sad, he figured he must be planning a rebellion. Rosh Hashanah, we are in the King's palace. We say מלכיות, and declare Hashem’s kingship. Everything we want is before us, and anything we need, we can ask for. Our faces should shine with joy. If we appear downcast, the King of the world will question it. Therefore, let us be happy on Rosh Hashanah, and we will receive all the goodness from Hashem.
As is known, Hashem's name ה"הוי can be spelled twelve different ways, corresponding to the twelve months. Each month has another formation of Hashem’s name ה"הוי. The formation for Tishrei is ה"והי. The Magen Avraham (of Trisk) zt’l explains that this is because Chazal teach us that והיה represents joy, and in this month we should be happy.
The Siforno (Vayikra 23:24) writes, "Although on this day, Hashem sits on His throne of judgment, it is proper that we rejoice because He is our King, and He will seek to do kindness and judge us favorably. As it states, יושעינו הוא מלכנו 'ה מחוקקנו 'ה שופטנו 'ה כי, 'Hashem is our judge, Hashem is our King, and He will help us.'"
Chasam Sofer (Drashos) writes, "Rosh Hashanah is an awesome and fearful day. It is a day of judgment for the entire world. But it isn't a sad day. It is a joyous day, the joy of teshuvah, ahavah, and deveikus..."
The Avodas Yisrael (Netzavim) writes, "Teshuvah must be performed with joy. One must have bitachon that Hashem won't abandon His nation. We don't say tachanun on erev Rosh Hashanah, maybe to hint to us that we don't need to fall on our faces. We should stand before Hashem with love and joy."
The Chinuch (311) writes, "Hashem performs kindness with His creations and reviews their deeds one day each year, on Rosh Hashanah, before their sins become too many. Their sins are still few, so Hashem forgives them. If He would only review their deeds once in a very long time, their sins would be many, and the world may be destroyed, chalilah. Rosh Hashanah, therefore, is a very special day. The world's existence is dependent on this day. It is proper to make this day a yom tov. It is among the special yomim tovim of the year... Despite our joy, it is a day of judgment, so it is appropriate that we be afraid. This is why we don’t say Hallel on this holiday. It isn’t proper to sing Hallel while standing in judgment."
The Mishnah Berurah explains, "Although Rosh Hashanah is the day of judgment, nevertheless, the mitzvah of בחגך ושמחת, to be happy on yom tov, applies to Rosh Hashanah, too, because Rosh Hashanah is called a chag, as it states (Tehillim 81:4) חגנו ליום בבסה, and it states in Nechemiah (8:10, regarding Rosh Hashanah) ואתה ,לאדנינו היום קדוש כי ...ממתקים ושתו משמנים אכלו מעוזכם היא 'ה חדות כי תעצבו אל, 'Go, eat fat foods and drink sweet drinks...for the day is holy to Hashem. Do not be sad, for the joy...is your strength.'"
