Our Father, Our King... (Liturgical Prayer)
As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah, here is a small suggestion to optimize its spiritual potential.
We recite Avinu Malkeinu, “Our Father, Our King,” acknowledging Hashem as both a loving parent and a sovereign ruler. But such a declaration cannot be reserved solely for the liturgy of Rosh Hashanah. If we wish to genuinely crown Hashem as King, it must be reflected in the way we live each day leading up to it.
It is incongruent to live our lives governed by fear, insecurity, or the approval of others, and then suddenly, on Rosh Hashanah, proclaim Hashem as King. To declare Hashem’s kingship authentically, we would best practice that truth consistently.
What does it mean to live with Hashem as King? It means choosing what is right and responsible, even when it is uncomfortable, even when it might provoke disapproval, or cost us socially or emotionally. If I know what I must do, but hold back because of how others might perceive me, then in effect, I’m saying, “This person, or this fear, rules my life; not Hashem.”
To walk into Rosh Hashanah with sincerity and integrity, we must begin in Elul by aligning our daily actions with the awareness that Hashem is truly in charge. That is our avodah: to uphold what is true and just, even when it’s hard, even when it requires courage. When we live this way in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah, our declaration of Hashem’s sovereignty becomes more than words. It becomes an honest reflection of our lived reality.
So if you want to optimize Rosh Hashanah, begin by optimizing today. Let each decision between now and then reflect the quiet, resolute truth: Hashem is King.
