TorahParsha

Correction & Clarification to my Yom Kippur Post

More than one reader noted that, in the piece I sent for Yom Kippur, I incorrectly mentioned the 10^th of Nissan as the date of Passover. I’d like to explain the original idea that I was trying to describe (an idea that I may have read at least part of in one of Rav Mordecai Breuer's works).

 

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In Egypt, just before the Exodus, God tells the people to begin their calendar with the month of Nissan. They are to set aside the Paschal lamb on the 10^th of Nissan. Which is five days before Passover, the seven-day holiday that begins on the 15^th. 

Today our calendar begins not in Nissan, but with the month of Tishrei. Rosh HaShanah comes at the start of Tishrei. Yom Kippur comes on the 10^th. And Sukkot, a seven-day holiday, begins on the 15^th.

Obviously the dates of Tishrei -- our season of repentance and forgiveness -- run parallel to the dates Nissan, our season of freedom.

Perhaps because repentance and freedom are variations on a single theme.

 

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Chag Sameach,

Abe 

Note that, outside of Israel, Passover and Sukkot are observed for one extra day.

What are trumpets

(for the holiday of the Shofar)

(based on an earlier thought for Parshat B’HaAlotcha)

(Num. 9:15 – 10:10)

i

God rests His Cloud of Glory over the Tent.

And when the Cloud would rise up from the Tent, the people would know to continue on in the Desert.

And where the Cloud would finally settle, the people would encamp.

*

This is what would happen:

When they saw the movement of the Cloud, the priests would blow two Trumpets and the people would know to travel.

God had told Moses to make these Trumpets, and for the priests to blow them.

 

ii

So the people must watch God’s Cloud; they must watch God’s sign.

*
But that is not enough:

They must also have their own Trumpets

They must translate God’s sign into their own sign

They must take their own responsibility to move

Then, they are ready to follow God.

*
In Trumpets the people make this translation.

In Trumpets the people take this responsibility.

In Trumpets the Children of Israel become mature.

 

 

L’shanah tovah u’mitukah / A happy and sweet new year,

Abe

 

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If you enjoyed this thought, please share it with a friend over the holiday.

Please continue to pray for Ahuvah Rachel bat Orah, and for Rachel Tovah bat Yehudit Esther, that both should have a speedy recovery in the coming year.

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Coats (for Rosh HaShanah)

i
The Creation was simply an expression of God’s want.

Let there be…and there was.

But when God created the man, the man ate the Fruit. And God sent the man, naked, into the world.

*
Then God gave the man and his wife coats; and God dressed them.


ii
Sinning, the man worked against God’s Creation. God sent him away.

Dressing the man, God said: even so, I will care for you.


iii
Rosh HaShanah is the anniversary of God’s creating Man. It is also the day on which God judges us.

It is like the time when God asked, Have you eaten of the Fruit?

*
After Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur will come.

God will let us atone for our sins.

God will dress us. God will give us coats.


iv
Creation, and Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, tell the same story: God will clothe us in our nakedness, despite everything.


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I would like to wish each and every one of you a Shanah Tovah—a good year of sweetness, of happiness, of Torah, and of peace. 

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