HEARING THE WHISPER OF THE YECHIDAH - ROSH HASHANA IN LOCKDOWN
Rosh Hashana
Many communities will be spending Rosh Hashona this year in lockdown. Instead of Davening in Shule with the Tzibbur (the community), we will be Davening Beyechidus (on our own), at home with our families.
For us in Melbourne, this is our second Rosh Hashona to be celebrated in this way.
Our Yomim Noraim experience is very much connected to Shule. Each year we come together as a community and stand before Hashem, Davening for blessings for the upcoming year. When we can’t be in Shule, an important part of our experience is missing (not to mention those parts of the prayers that can only be said with a minyan present).
Firstly, we must acknowledge that this, like everything that happens, is Hashem’s will. Since it must be Hashem’s will, there must be a inner reason behind it, even if we cannot understand what that may be. There is something that we can and must accomplish and lockdown presents that opportunity.
I’d like to share one of the ideas that helped me to put this reality into perspective and to appreciate the unique opportunity that this Yomim Noraim presented. The truth is that this idea is relevant even for those years where we are able to observe these days in a communal setting in Shule.
The Gemora contrasts two Pesukim. One verse says “as is Hashem our G-d, whenever we call to Him,” implying that Hashem is always accessible. The second verse reads “seek Hashem when He is found, call to Him when He is near” which suggests that Hashem is not always ‘near’ and ‘found’.
Our sages resolve the contradiction with the words הא ביחיד הא בצבור. The first verse refers to Davening with the Tzibbur. When the community calls to Hashem, He always is always accessible. The second Posuk refers to the Yachid – the individual. The Gemora elaborates, that the time when Hashem is ‘near’ and ‘found’ are the 10 days of Teshuvah between Rosh Hashona and Yom Kippur.
The Alter Rebbe offers a deeper insight on the meaning of this Gemora, one which is very applicable to our current situation.
The Tzibbur and the Yachid represent different levels within our soul and how we connect to Hashem.
A Tzibbur comprises a Minyan of 10 individuals. This represents the “10 powers of the Neshama” which parallel the 10 Divine Sefiros. These represent the consciousness of the soul – our intellectual qualities and our emotions. When we use our minds to meditate on the greatness of Hashem, this triggers an emotional response, stirring feelings of love and awe within our hearts.
This is an important part of Davening, but the level of feeling and connection we experience through this Avodah will always be limited by our capacity to understand and relate to Hashem. We think about Hashem and have feelings of love and fear for Him, but ultimately, we are still our own separate being.
The Yachid represents the very essence of the soul, called the Yechida because of its essential oneness with Hashem. The connection of the Yechida with Hashem runs deeper than logic and understanding. We feel the Yechida as a powerful yearning to connect to Hashem. It is the essence of who we are; the part of Hashem that is within us.
We are not always able to access the Yechida. Most of the time it remains hidden and we operate and connect through the ‘Tzibbur’ of our mind and heart.
During the Aseres Ymei Teshuvah, Hashem draws close to us. During this time when He is ‘near’ and ‘found’, the spark of our Yechida is revealed and we can feel that absolute oneness with Hashem and connect on that level. It is a time for the Yachid.
Based on this deeper understanding, Rosh Hashona is always a time to Daven ‘Beyachid’ – even for those who are Davening Betzibbur in Shule. It is a time we can Daven from that essential point of the soul.
In times when we are compelled to Daven Beyachid in the literal sense as well, we are given the opportunity to concentrate even more on this inner Avodah. Undisturbed by the ‘noise’ of the Tzibbur; the pace of the Davening, the calibre of the Chazzan and the Drashos, we are left alone to our thoughts.
In the silence, we are able to focus on listening to that soft, still voice within us, the whisper of the Yechida in which Hashem’s essence is ‘near’ and ‘found’.
With blessings for a Kesiva Vechasim Tova, a new year filled with blessings and above all, a year of Redemption.
For us in Melbourne, this is our second Rosh Hashona to be celebrated in this way.
Our Yomim Noraim experience is very much connected to Shule. Each year we come together as a community and stand before Hashem, Davening for blessings for the upcoming year. When we can’t be in Shule, an important part of our experience is missing (not to mention those parts of the prayers that can only be said with a minyan present).
Firstly, we must acknowledge that this, like everything that happens, is Hashem’s will. Since it must be Hashem’s will, there must be a inner reason behind it, even if we cannot understand what that may be. There is something that we can and must accomplish and lockdown presents that opportunity.
I’d like to share one of the ideas that helped me to put this reality into perspective and to appreciate the unique opportunity that this Yomim Noraim presented. The truth is that this idea is relevant even for those years where we are able to observe these days in a communal setting in Shule.
The Gemora contrasts two Pesukim. One verse says “as is Hashem our G-d, whenever we call to Him,” implying that Hashem is always accessible. The second verse reads “seek Hashem when He is found, call to Him when He is near” which suggests that Hashem is not always ‘near’ and ‘found’.
Our sages resolve the contradiction with the words הא ביחיד הא בצבור. The first verse refers to Davening with the Tzibbur. When the community calls to Hashem, He always is always accessible. The second Posuk refers to the Yachid – the individual. The Gemora elaborates, that the time when Hashem is ‘near’ and ‘found’ are the 10 days of Teshuvah between Rosh Hashona and Yom Kippur.
The Alter Rebbe offers a deeper insight on the meaning of this Gemora, one which is very applicable to our current situation.
The Tzibbur and the Yachid represent different levels within our soul and how we connect to Hashem.
A Tzibbur comprises a Minyan of 10 individuals. This represents the “10 powers of the Neshama” which parallel the 10 Divine Sefiros. These represent the consciousness of the soul – our intellectual qualities and our emotions. When we use our minds to meditate on the greatness of Hashem, this triggers an emotional response, stirring feelings of love and awe within our hearts.
This is an important part of Davening, but the level of feeling and connection we experience through this Avodah will always be limited by our capacity to understand and relate to Hashem. We think about Hashem and have feelings of love and fear for Him, but ultimately, we are still our own separate being.
The Yachid represents the very essence of the soul, called the Yechida because of its essential oneness with Hashem. The connection of the Yechida with Hashem runs deeper than logic and understanding. We feel the Yechida as a powerful yearning to connect to Hashem. It is the essence of who we are; the part of Hashem that is within us.
We are not always able to access the Yechida. Most of the time it remains hidden and we operate and connect through the ‘Tzibbur’ of our mind and heart.
During the Aseres Ymei Teshuvah, Hashem draws close to us. During this time when He is ‘near’ and ‘found’, the spark of our Yechida is revealed and we can feel that absolute oneness with Hashem and connect on that level. It is a time for the Yachid.
Based on this deeper understanding, Rosh Hashona is always a time to Daven ‘Beyachid’ – even for those who are Davening Betzibbur in Shule. It is a time we can Daven from that essential point of the soul.
In times when we are compelled to Daven Beyachid in the literal sense as well, we are given the opportunity to concentrate even more on this inner Avodah. Undisturbed by the ‘noise’ of the Tzibbur; the pace of the Davening, the calibre of the Chazzan and the Drashos, we are left alone to our thoughts.
In the silence, we are able to focus on listening to that soft, still voice within us, the whisper of the Yechida in which Hashem’s essence is ‘near’ and ‘found’.
With blessings for a Kesiva Vechasim Tova, a new year filled with blessings and above all, a year of Redemption.