The Chasam Sofer taught another reason why we don’t say Hallel. He explains that it is known that our ancestors join us in our tefillos on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is written, ה-י יהללו המתים לא, "the dead cannot say Hallel"; therefore, we don’t say Hallel on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
The Meiri (Rosh Hashanah 16.) writes, "On Rosh Hashanah, the judgment is for the living and the dead, whether the future will be one of pleasure or distress, wealth or loss." The Rambam (Pirush HaMishnayos Rosh Hashanah 4) writes, "Hallel isn't recited on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur because they are days of avodah, humility, fear, and awe of Hashem. They are days to escape and to run to Hashem, days for teshuvah, tefillos, requests, and forgiveness. Therefore, Hallel and joy aren’t appropriate on these days."
Notice that the Rambam refers to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as days of fear and days "to escape and run to Hashem." Unlike most fears that cause people to run away from them, the fear of Rosh Hashanah draws people closer to Hashem. As we say in Selichos, בצילך מחמתך אתכסה, "I hide from Your anger in Your shadow." This is the uniqueness of the fear of Hashem. It draws us closer.
Reb Bunim of Peshischa zt’l writes in a letter, "During these days, joy is concealed in fear. May Hashem grant us that it should be both, together." Rabbeinu Yonah (Brachos 21.) writes, "Although, for humans, joy and fear are opposites, by Hakadosh Baruch Hu, they aren't. In fact, fear increases joy."
So, too, on Rosh Hashanah, we are afraid, yet we are joyous. In avodas Hashem, these two emotions aren't contradictory. The blast of the shofar expresses fear and joy, the two emotions of the day. The tekiyah is a sound of joy, while shevarim and teruah are the sounds of a broken heart. The shofar is the fusion of fear and joy.
Yitzchak Avinu represents fear of Heaven, which is why he is often referred to as Pachad Yitzchok, the fear of Yitzchak. Yet Yitzchak also means laughter and happiness. The Sfas Emes zt'l writes, "It is possible he was called Yitzchak because his face shone with happiness, for there is no one happier than the person who truly fears Hashem and doesn’t have any other fear."
Standing Before the King
The Pnei Menachem zt'l related a story that will explain the joy of Rosh Hashanah. An admirer of the president of the United States heard that the president was visiting his neighborhood. He immediately jumped into his car, passed several red lights, and committed other driving violations in his haste to get to the president. Many roadblocks and bodyguards were stationed to prevent people like him from reaching the president, but he managed to pass through them all and catch a few words with the president. In a matter of minutes, the police arrested him, and he was sent to jail. He said it was all worth it for the few moments he spoke to the president.
This story helps us understand our joy on Rosh Hashanah. We stand before Hashem, and that is our greatest joy. As the Berditchever Rav zt'l once said, "We say on Rosh Hashanah in the Unesaneh Tokef, ימות ומי יחיה מי, 'Who will live, and who will die...' All this is decided on Rosh Hashanah, but I don't care as long as You think about us." To be at the forefront of Hashem's thoughts is our most incredible privilege. Rebbe Yechezkel of Radomsk zt'l (grandson of the Tiferes Shlomo zt'l) said, "Throughout the year, there is a curtain that separates Bnei Yisrael from their Father in heaven, but on Rosh Hashanah, there is no separation."
