Rosh Hashannah Message
"Happy are the people that know the joyful shout of prayer (תרועה); they walk, with you Hashem, in the light of Your countenance" (Psalms 89, 16). This verse is one of many verses from this psalm that we say in our prayers throughout the High Holidays. Why is "knowing the joyful shout of prayer" so important?
In times of distress we have a clear commandment to appeal to Hashem for our salvation as the Torah suggests: "And when ye go to war in your land against the adversary that oppresses you, then ye shall sound an alarm (shout) with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your G-d, and ye shall be saved from your enemies" (Leviticus 10, 9).
It is for this very reason that we are given the test of oppression and suffering in order so we can pray for our salvation. However, our verse teaches us that in order to appeal to Hashem one must "walk in His light." This is the meaning of our verse that the one who "knows the joyful shout of prayer" should be happy. For when the people of
In our times of world economic crisis and water shortage, the lifeline of the Land of Israel, it is incumbent upon us to strengthen our faith and good deeds as we pray on the High Holidays "Repentance, Prayer and Charity dissolves the crisis from our lives."
Our ability to continue to follow the Will of Hashem stems from our Holy Torah which expresses our deep intimate relationship with Hashem. Due to our daily involvement in Torah study and commitment to the
We would like to wish you and your families that the end of this year should bring to an end of our suffering and the beginning of a new year full of blessing and promise and that Hashem inscribe you for a happy good year and we can all see good tidings along with the salvation and complete redemption of our people.
Shannah Tova,
Rabbi Eliyahu Blum
Rosh HaYeshiva
