It’s all in the head
Rosh Hashanah, Nitzavim Levi Levitin Rosh Hashanah, Nitzavim Levi Levitin

It’s all in the head

While Rosh Hashanah is commonly referred to as the “Jewish New Year”, in fact, the precise translation of Rosh Hashanah is actually “Head of the Year”.

We call this holiday “Head of the Year” since these two days stand in the same relationship to the rest of the year as the head does to the body. Just like the head is the source of the life force of the person, and afterwards this life force is distributed to each individual organ of the body, so too Rosh Hashanah has hidden within it all of the life force of the year, and from the holiday it is apportioned to each and every individual day.

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The Cry of the Shofar
Rosh Hashanah Levi Levitin Rosh Hashanah Levi Levitin

The Cry of the Shofar

As we celebrate the upcoming Rosh Hashanah, the head of the new year, we reflect on the past year and anticipate the upcoming year ahead.

Out of all the many Mitzvot and customs that are generally observed, what is considered the most important part of the Holiday?

The Mishnah states, " The mitzvah of the day is with the shofar." There is a parable shared by the Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760) describing the significance of the Shofar.

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