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The Torah is not in heaven…it is to be fulfilled on earth

Adapted by Yosef Marcus from a discourse of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

Although Rosh Hashanah celebrates the creation of the world,it is celebrated on the first of Tishrei, corresponding to the sixth day of creation - the day man was created. The ultimate purpose of creation is that man, through his divine service, reveal G-dliness in the world.

The Trumpets and the Shofar

From the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov

Every mitzvah, Torah, or prayer should be done with awe and love. Although they are contradictory emotions, they arise simultaneously when one has a true experience of G•d.

Intermediate

Revelation and Concealment

Compassion is imbued into the very fabric of existence.

By Simon Jacobson

One of the main themes of Rosh Hashanah is knowing that compassion is imbued into the very fabric of existence -for otherwise, the world could not have endured. This becomes an eternal source of hope, giving us the strength to overcome any challenge.

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The Task of Rosh Hashanah

The real goal of Rosh Hashanah is to get close to G-d.

By Binyomin Adilman, based on Netivot Shalom

The month of Elul is the appropriate time for the repentance and self-rectification a person needs to do. However, tThe service of Tishrei and Rosh Hashanah is to declare the sovereignty of G-d over us, to re-crown Him as King and to nullify our will before His.

The Heavy Head

With every prayer and word of Torah uttered with concentration, you unite the World of Speech with the World of Thought.

From the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov

Since all the holy words of the completely righteous unite speech within the realm of thought, on Rosh Hashanah theys are immediately written and sealed for life. In contrast, "Intermediaries" pray that G·d should also fulfill their mundane requests and therefore are left waiting until Yom Kippur for their final verdict.