Excerpts from the popular shiur by Harav Yehuda Mandel shlit”a from Lakewood
Rosh Hashanah – Joy and Fear
On Rosh Hashanah there is a unique integration of two feelings. On the one hand we speak of the Yamim Nora’im – Days of Awe. There is a fear of the din. On the other hand, we need to be happy, to have bitachon. The mashgiach Rav Shlomo Wolbe zt”l wrote, “Fortunate is he whose heart is joyous during the time of shofar blowing.” And it is also known that the Gr”a was very happy during tekias shofar. The reason for this joy is that Rosh Hashanah is the time of Hakadosh Baruch Hu’s coronation.
The purpose of life is to be connected to Hashem yisbarach, and sins separate us from that connection. Rosh Hashanah is the time when the connection is strengthened, by our coronating Hashem as King. Therefore, we need to rejoice in His majesty, to feel that we belong to His Malchus. When Hashem yisbarach sees us rejoicing in His Malchus and feeling close to Him, He also gives us a lot more. Lehavidil, when one asks for a donation from a rich man, if he asks in a friendly way, he will receive much more. On the other hand, if he approaches the rich man with fear and distance, he will receive less.
Nevertheless, there is a judgment here – who will live and who will die? We have to fear the judgment, and so there must also be fear. But we are happy with the Malchus Hashem, happy with the opportunity to come back and be connected to Hashem, and we trust in His mercies and kindness and believe that He will continue to bestow good upon us. Even if, according to the depth of judgment, we deserve punishment, chas v’shalom, Hashem yisbarach, our merciful King, will find ways to advocate for us and to decree only good for us. Therefore, we need to know that there is fear here, but there is also One Whom we can trust! The main thing is that the fear not paralyze us, chas v’shalom. It is forbidden to forget Hashem’s love for us, and therefore we should trust Him! And even a wicked person who trusts in Hashem will be surrounded by chessed!
And this is the most wonderful way to do teshuvah – to return and to be close to Hashem yisbrach.
May we all be zocheh to be inscribed in the book of complete tzaddikim, l’chaim tovim ul’shalom; amen.
