5785/2025
In our Jewish calendar today, we have many holidays; each one, it seems, carries a set theme and mood. Take Purim for example, which is associated with victory and Simcha. Or Pesach, a holiday that is the paradigm for expressing Hoda’ah, thanks, and also one that celebrates the amazing redemption of our nation. On Shavuot we relive the giving and acceptance on our part of the Torah, a monumental occasion for our nation. But the next holiday that we will be celebrating seems to be one that at first glance, is made up of mixed feelings. Is it a day of trepidation and fear, like the upcoming Yom Kippur, or is it a holiday that is designed to welcome the new year in happiness?
Firstly, the Gemara in Eruchin emphasizes the element of awe so essential to the Yamim Nora’im: “רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מִפְּנֵי מָה אֵין יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה לְפָנֶיךָ בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וּבְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים? אָמַר לָהֶן: אֶפְשָׁר, מֶלֶךְ יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא הַדִּין, וְסִפְרֵי חַיִּים וְסִפְרֵי מֵתִים פְּתוּחִין לְפָנָיו, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה לְפָנַי?!ו” - “Is it possible that the King is sitting on the chair of judgement, the books of life and the books of death open, and the Jewish people are saying [Hallel] before me?”
Clearly, there is a certain aspect of solemnity to Rosh HaShanah (and of course, Yom Kippur) in particular that doesn’t apply to the other Yamim Tovim. In fact, the Rambam in Hilchot Megillah VeChannukah, quoting this gemara, relates that Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are “ימי תשובה ויראה ופחד, לא ימי שמחה יתרה” - “Days of repentance and fear, not days of extraneous happiness.”
However, despite the Rambam’s strong remarks, Rosh Hashnah is not stripped of simcha entirely. In the Tur, Orach Chaim Siman Tuf Kuf Pei Aleph, he explains that we in fact do perform actions of Simcha on (and before) Rosh HaShanah, such as getting haircuts, trimming nails, wearing white clothes, eating and drinking. The Tur reasons that we act like this because we trust Hashem to do a miracle for us and forgive us of our sins. Finally, the Mishnah Berurah, quoting the Beit Yosef, suggests that while we do say Aveinu Malkeinu on Rosh HaShanah, we should omit the phrase “Avinu Malkeniu Chatanu Lefanacha”, in order to avoid mentioning sin on Rosh HaShanah, a day of happiness.
From the extensive Rishonim, one can derive a delicate but essential framework of Rosh HaShanah: it is a holiday filled with awe, but not fear; and while it requires a certain level of seriousness, there is also great Simcha. As we approach such a holy day this Monday night, we must do our best to act in accordance with the balanced structure that our Rishonim have set out for us, maintaining the happiness of a Yom Tov without forgetting what exactly is at stake.