Our Father Our King
The shofar was chosen, not in spite of its simplicity, but because of it. The shofar symbolizes and expresses the simple, incorruptible and essential nature of the soul which is connected to the “simple” and essential aspect of G-d.
The World’s Rebirth
There are two Hebrew words and feelings which dominate the atmosphere of Rosh Hashanah: “Avinu Malkeinu, Our Father, Our King.” We relate to G-d as our Father during this time of the year, because Rosh Hashanah is the birth of a new year. We, the Jewish people, and, indeed the entire universe experience their rebirth and recreation on Rosh Hashanah. G-d’s role as our Father is most pronounced on Rosh Hashanah, because Rosh Hashanah is when our role as His new-born child is likewise reinforced.
When we refer to G-d as our Father, we are expressing how special we are to Him. Indeed, the Ba’al Shem Tov taught us that the love G-d has for each and every one of us is analogous to and surpasses the love a father has for an only child born to him in his old age.
The Ba’al Shem Tov’s Parable
When we hear the shofar this year, we should reflect on the Ba’al Shem Tov’s parable of the errant prince, who, upon returning to his father, realizing he had forgotten his native language, broke down and cried from the depths of his heart, expressing the sentiment, if not the words, “Father, save me!”
This primal cry broke through the barriers which separated between father and son. And at that point his father took him into his embrace.
The shofar, i.e., the cry of the child within us, is our way of cementing our relationship with G-d in a manner that transcends the conventional modes of communication. It reveals the inner core of our being and reinforces and enhances the most powerful bonds which unite a parent to his/her child and a child to its parent. And no matter how far we’ve strayed throughout the year and lost our means to communicate with G-d, the shofar of Rosh Hashanah enables us to reconnect in a more fundamental and powerful way.
Shofar: The Instrument of Choice?
Of all the instruments one could have chosen to create an inspirational atmosphere, the shofar would have been the last choice. So many other instruments have more beautiful and aesthetically pleasing sounds. Yet, the shofar was chosen, not in spite of its simplicity, but because of it. The shofar symbolizes and expresses the simple, incorruptible and essential nature of the soul which is connected to the “simple” and essential aspect of G-d.
The shofar is also the instrument our prophets refer to as the prelude to the Era of Redemption. Indeed, Rabbi Sa’adia Gaon includes the “Shofar of Redemption” theme among his ten reasons for the sounding of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah. In other words, when hearing the shofar we are to think of G-d heralding the Redemption.
Shofar Unifies Rosh Hashanah and Moshiach
What is the connection between Rosh Hashanah and the Messianic Era? And why is the shofar the instrument that unites the two concepts?
For thousands of years, the Jewish people have wandered in exile. We have distanced ourselves from G-d in one way or another. And as a consequence of our alienation from G-d, we lost our means of communicating with Him. We are very much like the proverbial prince who has strayed. We, as the prince, have lost the means to communicate with the King. This is why Galus (exile) is so painful. Not only do we suffer when we stray from G-d, but, even when we wish to return, there are all sorts of insurmountable obstacles. Even when we want to be more G-dly, we discover that we cannot communicate.
The Great Shofar
The Messianic Age is when the “Great Shofar,” sounded by G-d, will pierce all barriers and penetrate beneath the surface of our beings and enable us to express the fundamental child/parent relationship we enjoy with G-d. All the exile-imposed barriers, all the “static” we presently experience in our communication with G-d, will disappear. And when the lines of communication between parent and child are unobstructed, the love between them will flourish.
The Shofar of Geulah (Redemption) will thus inaugurate a time when the love between G-d and the Jewish people which was concealed throughout our difficult sojourn in exile - will be fully revealed.
May we all be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year; a year of happiness and good health, and most importantly, a year of true peace and Redemption!
From the book Light from the Future: Rosh Hashanah by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.
