Bitachon Changes a Person’s Verdict to Be Favorable
The Gemara and the Shulchan Aruch instruct us to “eat tasty and sweet things.” These instructions are not about davening, because it is not appropriate to eat when one is davening. Rather, by eating sweet things we demonstrate our emunah and bitachon.
This is especially true in light of what I wrote in my derushim (Ki Savo, 5612): On Rosh Hashanah a person should be happy and say, “Whatever Hashem yisbarach does is good.” As a result of this, his verdict will be transformed to become good. This is also the reason that on Rosh Hashanah, right after Shacharis, one should say, “Everything the Merciful One does, He does for the good.” Eating sweet foods and declaring Hashem’s goodness transforms our verdict to become good, even if it had been decreed otherwise.
(Chochmas Shlomo on Orach Chaim 583)
Rejoice That He Is Our King
The Torah refers to Rosh Hashanah as “zichron teruah” – a memory of the shofar blast made in honor of the King, whereby, as it says in Tehillim, we rejoice in our mighty King.
This is because on Rosh Hashanah Hashem sits on His Seat of judgment.... And it is even more appropriate for us to be happy, for He is our King, Who will bend our judgment to chessed and will declare us innocent....
(Sforno, Vayikra 23:24)
Trust in Hashem That You’ll Be Granted Life
The arrangement of the letters of Hashem’s Name Havayah, that corresponds to the month of Tishrei, spells “v’hayah,” which connotes joy, even though Rosh Hashanah is a day of judgment, and it is natural to feel fear when one faces a life-or-death verdict. Fear and trembling fall upon a person as he considers the fact that he might be sentenced to death in the spiritual sense, as the wicked are considered dead while they are still alive, since they did not achieve closeness to Hashem, Who is the main Source of life. He also faces the terrifying possibility of death in the physical sense, R”l. One can, chalilah, fall into depression and sadness as a result of this fear.
Therefore, the arrangement of the letters of the Shem Havayah corresponding to the month of Tishrei is v’hayah, which connotes joy. It comes to show us that despite all this fear and trembling, we should feel joy. “Rejoice in your trembling.” We should trust in Hashem yisbarach that we will be counted among the living, for both spiritual and physical life.
(Magen Avraham of Harav Hakadosh of Trisk, Ki Savo)
Klal Yisrael Are Sure Their Verdict Will Be Positive
The Alter of Kelm explained that the Midrash teaches that a Jew is happy on Rosh Hashanah because he is confident that he will be found innocent.
But how does one have bitachon and rejoice? In light of his deeds, he is in great danger, and there is almost no hope that he will be found innocent. The Alter explained that Klal Yisrael as a whole are sure that they will emerge innocent, and the real danger is in the unknown verdict of each individual.
(Ohr Yechezkel p. 36)
