By the Grace of G-dIn the Days of Selichoth5724. Brooklyn, N. Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

The celebration of Rosh Hashanah has been ordained by the Creator to take place not on the anniversary of Creation in general, but specifically on the anniversary of the creation of Man.

There is a great significance in this:

The creation of Man did not merely bring to a conclusion the whole of Creation at the end of the Six days of Genesis, but it also brought the Creation to completion and fulfillment.

With the creation of Man, the Universe attained its state of wholesomeness - not merely because the last and most superior creature made its appearance, but also because Man is that creature which can, must and eventually will bring all other creatures to their ultimate fulfillment.

This is achieved when Man utilizes, and in the fullest measure, all his own capacities, as well as all the resources of Nature - in the inanimate, vegetable and animal ”kingdoms” - to the good and the holy.

Because in this way each created being, and Creation as a whole, is brought into harmony with the Will of the Creator.

* * *

One of the main distinguishing features in the creation of Man is that Man was created single, unlike other species which were created in large populations.

This indicates emphatically that one single individual has the capacity to bring the whole of Creation to fulfillment, as was the case with the first Man, Adam. No sooner was Adam created on that first Rosh Hashanah than he called upon, and successfully rallied, all creatures in the world to recognize the Sovereignty of the Creator, with the Call:

Come, let us prostrate ourselves, let us bow down and kneel before G-d our Maker!¹ For it is only through ”prostration" - self abnegation - that a created being can attach itself to, and be united with, the Creator, and thus attain fulfillment of the highest order.

Our Sages, of blessed memory, teach us that the first Man, Adam, was the prototype and example for each and every individual to follow: ”For this reason was Man created single, in order to teach you - one person equals a whole world,” our Sages declared in the Mishnah.²

This means that every Jew, regardless of time and place and personal status, has the fullest capacity (hence also duty) to rise and attain the highest degree of fulfillment, and accomplish the same for the Creation as a whole.

* * *

Rosh Hashanah - the anniversary of the first, and single, human reminds every Jew of this duty.

Rosh Hashanah disproves the contentions of those who do not fulfill their duty, with the excuse that it is impossible to change the world; or that their parents had not given them the necessary education and preparation; or that the world is so huge, and one is so puny - how can one hope to accomplish anything?

Rosh Hashanah offers the powers needed to fulfill this duty, because on this day the whole of Creation is rejuvenated; a new year begins, with renewed powers, as on the day of the first Rosh Hashanah.

This is borne out by the prayer which each one of us prays in the evening, morning and afternoon prayers of Rosh Hashanah:

Establish Thy reign upon all the world.. that every creature shall know that Thou didst create it.

The fact that each one of us prays for total Divine Sovereignty and the identity of each created thing with its Creator is proof that the attainment of this is within reach of everyone of us.

* * *

There were times when the said idea, namely, the ability of a single individual to “transform” the world, met with skepticism, and demanded proof, etc.

However, precisely in our generation, unfortunately, we do not have far to seek to be convinced of this. We have seen how one individual had brought the world to the brink of destruction, but for the mercies of the King of the Universe, Who ordained that “the earth shall stand firm; shall not fall.”³

If such is the case in the realm of evil, surely one’s potential is much greater in the realm of the good. For, in truth, Creation is essentially good, and therefore more inclined towards the good than the opposite.

May G-d grant that everyone, man or woman, should firmly resolve on the day of Rosh Hashanah to give full expression to the spirit of Rosh Hashanah, as indicated above; and that these resolutions should be carried out in the actual every-day life of the coming year,

This means that everyone should cultivate submission to G-d in all aspects of the daily life, through the fulfillment of G-d’s Mitzvoth, to the fullest extent of “Know Him in all thy ways,”⁴ and may everyone accomplish this also for his environment.

Rosh Hashanah literally means ”head of the year,” for it stands in relation to the rest of the year as the head is to the rest of the body. Just as the head controls every limb of the body, so should the vitality and the resolutions of Rosh Hashanah permeate and guide every day of the year. Then the whole body (the whole year) will be a healthy one in all respects.

With the blessing of

כתיבה וחתימה טובה

לשנה טובה ומתוקה

/Menachem Schneerson/