Prepare To Meet Your G-D
By
Rabbi Baruch Yehudah
As the month of Ethanim, (Tishri), approaches it brings to my mind a few very important issues. My first consideration is why is this particular Rosh Chodesh, (New Moon), a Holy Day? It is certainly not the only month that contains Holy Days. In fact regarding the month Abib, (Nisan), The Most High has distinctly told us that Rosh Chodesh Abib, would be the beginning of months unto us (Exodus 12) . Although that may not seem a very significant statement consider what it would mean to the world if a convention of world leaders decided that the month of May would now be the new year as oppose to January 1st, and that the new year in May would only be applicable to the United States; this would cause considerable difficulties. That was the situation that existed when the Most High changed our new year to be inconsistent with the rest of the known world; however The All Holy did not make it a Holy Day although Pesach and Chag Matzote would follow 14 days later. Pesach is the only Holy Day that is exclusive to the Israelite family and those who would be converts and citizens of Yisrael. With that in mind what is the purpose of the Holy Day of Yom Teruah, (Rosh HaShanah)?
In examining this holy day we find it referred to also as Yom Zicron Teruah, (Leviticus 23), a day of remembrance. What is it that we are to remember? There are no historical records that would say that this day is observed in commemoration of an event, tragedy or triumph. What is the blowing of horns about? If we look back into our past the horn has many purposes. According to Number 10, the Khazotzrot, silver trumpets, are to sound an alarm, gather the princes and the assembly, and to sound to herald in the days of observance as well as sanctifying the offerings that we give to the Most High. The Shofar, the rams horn in blown in conjunction with the trumpets in our Jubilee. Further it was the ram’s horn that was blown in the destruction of the city of Jericho. Lastly I would like to call our attention to perhaps the most memorable and significant sounding of the horn in our history; when we met the ETERNAL at Sinai, and HE caused the sound of the Shofar to be heard louder and louder.
When we were at Sinai, when the Most High was ready to ensure that we did not believe Moses to be the greatest magician in the world, but rather that HE, the All Holy, would meet with and speak to HIS people to give us the hope and stability we would need to begin our national endeavor. We were instructed to get clean and prepare ourselves for this awesome and terrible meeting. We were instructed to refrain from carnal activities and to make sure we washed our bodies and our clothes. After Moses gave us the instruction and had gone back into the mountain that Most High sent him back down to tell us all the rules again! This was to ensure that we understood the significance of that moment. As we stood there talking among ourselves wondering what was to happen, the sound of the Shofar began and it waxed louder and louder; it was to GET OUR ATTENTION!
Using this premise, we can see that Yom Teruah is a day designed to get our attention; a day in which we need to begin to recognize our place before the Creator of all things. We need to remember our transgressions so that we can adequately atone. This brings me to the real focus of this short paper; getting prepared to meet with your G-D!
What do we need to do in this preparation? Is it that we should on Yom Teruah recount all these matters of error and transgression, as well as the clear mercies that were shown to us and those we love, and then go about our business as soon as the day is done? I don’t think that would be wise. We need to understand what this season is about. We unlike any other peoples on earth have been given the grand opportunity to have an audience with the King of the Universe. HE has gone on record to say that on Yom HaKippurim, (Day of Atonements), that HE has set this day aside to hear the petitions and the repentance of HIS people. How then should we go about our week continuing to be frivolous without considering the awesome gift that we are to receive 9 days after Yom Teruah.
For all those read this paper, consider this. In the days between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur there is a convention referred to as the Ten Days of Penitence. There are those who are immediately turned off by this as it is not a prescribed remembrance or appointed time in the law of the Most High. However, really consider our current plight. We are so very dissociated from our land, form our ways, from our sovereignty, from everything that makes a people a nation, yet we sometimes view our situations and see satisfaction. During these ten days we should take the time to reflect, pray and atone, and PREPARE for our meeting with G-D! Refraining from our frivolities, vices, and carnal pleasures will not destroy us for a ten day period. The restraint needed to abstain from these things can be enlightening and rejuvenating. I don’t want to mislead anyone into thinking that restraint from these things, as well as some charity is going to guarantee any particular mercies from on high. Nor, should we be looking at it in this fashion. The ELOHIM cannot be bought or bribed! The restraint from the aforementioned will give you the petionioner some clarity. It will give you multiple chances to contemplate G-D. Just imagine a smoker. The person may smoke 4 to five cigarettes per day, and every time he or she would desire that cigarette, what would be their benefit if they took that time to pray.
I do not want to berate any one, nor do I want anyone to feel as if they are being condemned if they do not wish to do this; because it should only be done by those who are willing. This paper and idea is just a offering to those who may be looking for a way to connect and be at one with their G-D in a way they have never experienced before. May the Holy One of Yisrael grant atonement to all of us and may we all be inscribed in the book of happy life, maintenance and substance.
Zoom Tov L’kol.
These are the morning prayers:
Sound the horn, sound the horn in Yisrael. Blow aloud the trumpets of The Lord. Gather the peoples
together, all the house of Jacob. Proclaim the ordinances of our God. Make them known to His people.
In the seventh month, on the first day of the month shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial
proclaimed with the blast of horns, a holy convocation. Behold bless ye The Lord all ye servants of The
Lord. Bless The Lord, Reuben. Shout praises Shimone. Sing aloud Levi. Exult Yehudah. Praise Him ye
Danites. Bow before Him Naphtali. Make a joyful sound and proclaim this day. Blow ye the horn.
Amen.
O, Lord, when we hear the joyful sound then do we think on Thy mercies. Sound not the horn of
alarm this day. Play the song of the joyful heart. The Lord our God is in the midst of us. Extend us peace,
O Lord, for Thy name’s sake. When the horn is blown turn the pages of time. Cast back our Thoughts to
antiquity. For a horn of God didst sound in the Mount. An alarm at the Mount of God. Remember us in
mercy, Lord. We are Thy people. Gad is fortunate that Thou art His God. Asher is happy to serve Thee.
Issaschar is hired to Thee all his days. Zebulun dwelleth in Thy name. Yosef adds to Thy glory. Thou
guidest Benyamin with Thy powerful right hand. Blow ye the horn in Zion. Blow ye the horn. Amen.
When God sendeth forth His hosts to the wicked city, destruction descendeth thereon. Sound the
trumpet alarm for the ungodly. The day of our God is here. A horn of plenty he giveth to Yisrael. He
adorneth the humble with salvation. Let His saints exult in glory. Let them praise His name in the dance.
Blow the horn in the days of your gladness. A memorial to the God of Yisrael. Blow ye the horn in
Yisrael. Blow ye the horn. Amen.rayers;
Evening prayers:
All ye inhabitants of the world, all ye dwellers of the earth; when and ensign is lifted up, see ye. When
the horn is blown hear ye. For the God of Yisrael is the true God. He is the creator of all and the only
God. He sendeth forth mercy for the seed of Abraham. He doth call aloud to the remnant of Jacob. And
it shall come to pass in that day, that a great horn shall be blown. And they shall come from all the lands
of the earth to worship The Lord in Jerusalem. Blessed be our God. Blow ye the horn. Blow ye the horn
Halleluyah. Amen.