"LIFNEI HASHEM KI VA" "BEFORE HASHEM, FOR HE WILL HAVE ARRIVED" (Tehillim 96:13)

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1 "LIFNEI HASHEM KI VA" "BEFORE HASHEM, FOR HE WILL HAVE ARRIVED" (Tehillim 96:13) ישמחו השמים ותגל הארץ ירעם הים ומלאו יעלז שדי 'וכל אשר בו אז ירננו כל עצי יער לפני ה כי בא כי בא לשפט הארץ ישפט תבל בצדק ועמים באמנתו (תהלים צו :יא -יג ( "The heavens will be glad and the earth will rejoice, the sea and its fullness will roar. The field and everything in it will exult; then all the trees of the forest will sing with joy. Before Hashem, for He will have arrived, He will have arrived to judge the earth, He will judge the world with righteousness, and peoples with His truth" (Tehillim 96:11-13). The Midrash analyzes these psukim: "'The field and everything in it will exult' (Tehillim 96:12) 'the field will exult' the field refers to the entire world, as it is written: 'and it happened when they (Kayin and Hevel) were in the field' (Bereishis 4:8),

2 'and everything in it' this refers to the creatures, as it is written: 'Hashem's is the earth and its fullness' (Tehillim 24:1). 'Then all the trees of the forest will sing with joy' - Rav Acha says: 'the forest and the trees of the forest' the forest refers to the trees which bear fruits, while the trees of the forest refer to trees which do not bear fruit. Before whom will they sing with joy? Before Hashem. Why? ' For He will have arrived' - on Rosh Hashana and Yom HaKippurim. What will He do? ' He will have arrived to judge the earth, He will judge the world with righteousness and peoples with his truth'" 1 What incredible joy, what an awesome choir! The heavens and the earth, the sea and its fullness, the field and everything in it, all the trees of the forest the entire creation is singing and celebrating, expressing joy in so many forms: - gladness, rejoicing, roaring, exulting. What is the reason for all this joy? In Whose honor? The answer is found in the concluding pasuk of this psalm: "Before Hashem for He will have arrived". The psalm opens with "sing to Hashem a new song, sing to Hashem everyone on earth" (Tehillim 96:1). The song refers to the future when Hashem's Kingdom will be revealed to the entire world, when the Moshiach will arrive speedily in our day. However, this song is also resonating in our hearts at this very moment as we stand on the threshold of the holy day of Rosh Hashana: "the heavens will be glad and the earth will rejoice before Hashem for He will have arrived, He will have arrived to judge the earth," as we saw in the above-quoted Midrash. 2 1 (Vayikra Rabba parsha 30). 2 (See also Midrash Tanchuma parshas Emor 18, there as well the pasuk is attributed to the judgment period of the High Holy Days).

3 Is this cause for joy? Should we not tremble at the thought of Hashem arriving to judge the earth? Should we not fear, should we not sweat and shiver? Who knows what the outcome of our judgment will be! Do we not describe this awesome Day of Judgment in our tefillos: ונתנה תקף קדושת היום כי הוא נורא ואיום... ומלאכים יחפזון וחיל ורעדה יאחזון ויאמרו הנה יום הדין... מי יחיה ומי ימות מי בקצו ומי לא בקצו... ועל המדינות בו יאמר איזו לחרב ואיזו לשלום איזו לרעב ואיזו לשבע" "Let us now relate the power of this day's holiness, for it is awesome and frightening Angels will hasten, a trembling and terror will seize them and they will say: 'behold it is the Day of Judgment' who will live and who will die regarding countries, it is said on this day which is destined for the sword and which for peace, which for hunger and which for abundance." How can we possibly "sing to Hashem a new song" on such an awesome day? Is this truly a day in which "the heavens will be glad and the earth will rejoice"? The truth is that only someone who fails to appreciate the essence of the day can ask such a question. The entire purpose of the creation, all of our hopes and prayers express, is a yearning for that day when we will be able to sing that new song, when we will finally witness that "Hashem is King" ממקומך מלכנו תופיע ותמלך עלינו... מתי תמלך בציון

4 "From Your place, our King, You will appear and reign over us when will You reign in Zion?" Oh! Creator of the Universe, we beseech You: "when will You reign?" ותחזינה עינינו בשובך לציון ברחמים "May our eyes behold Your return to Zion in compassion." This is our hope and yearning. On Rosh Hashana we are given the opportunity to behold Him - Hashem arrives, the King descends from His Holy Throne and enters our world. Of course Hashem is always here, but the entire year He conceals Himself from us. At times, and perhaps especially in our generation, many layers of curtains separate us from Him - "I will surely conceal My face " (Devarim 31:18). During the rest of the year, whoever does not search for Him, whoever does not attempt to peek behind the veils cannot hope to feel His presence However, on Rosh Hashana Hashem has arrived! The day in which: "the Heavens will be glad and the earth will rejoice for He will have arrived, He will have arrived to judge the earth." While it is true that His purpose is to judge the earth, our immense joy is in the fact of His arrival and this is what we must hold on to. Even one who the whole year does not merit a glimpse behind the many layers, on Rosh Hashana can "behold the sweetness of Hashem" (Tehillim 27:4). Once one has beheld this even once, he will never be the same - he will have a completely different perspective on life. The experience is everlasting. What joy! What incredible happiness! If not for our fear of judgment, we would dance from the beginning of Rosh Hashana until its conclusion, we would dance and dance without stopping. Hashem is King! Hashem has arrived! Let us go out and celebrate!

5 The joy is so great that we should recite Hallel! In fact this is what the ministering angels thought: "R' Abahu said: 'the ministering angels said before the Holy One Blessed is He: Master of the Universe, why do the Jews not recite song before You on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur? He (Hashem) replied: 'is it possible that the King is seated on the Throne of Judgment and the Books of the Living and the Books of the Dead are open before Him, and the Jews should recite song?'" (Rosh Hashana 32b). The angels cannot understand how anyone can refrain from singing, given this overwhelming sense of joy. Hashem explains to them: "on the one hand Hallel would appropriate for this day, but man must not forget that the Books of the Living and the Books of the Dead are open today." 3 Rosh Hashana is a joyous day because Hashem's Kingdom is revealed to the world. Chazal teach us that Rosh Hashana is a sampling of the days of Moshiach, a day in which we see Hashem "eye to eye" (Bamidbar 14: 14) as we will soon explain. THE GREAT SHOFAR "R' Yitzchak said: "why do we sound a tekiah and a teruah when the 3 We postpone this celebration until after Yom HaKippurim with the arrival of the Yom Tov of Sukkos. It is on Sukkos that we witness "the heavens will be glad and the earth will rejoice then all the trees of the forest will sing with joy". In the words of the Midrash Tanchuma (Parshas Emor siman 18), "You shall take for yourselves (referring to the four species on Sukkos") - "All the trees of the forest will sing with joy" who is this referring to? To the Jews and non-jews whom Hashem judged. The each enter into judgment on Yom Kippur, who emerged victorious? Hashem commands: "take your lulavim in your hands so that all will know that it was you who emerged victorious. Therefore David wrote: "all the trees in the forest will sing with joy before Hashem. Why? "For He will have arrived, He will have arrived to judge the earth on Yom Kippur. What do the Jewish people do? They wait five days and declare to the entire world that it was they who emerged with a positive verdict, they are therefore commanded: "you shall take for yourselves on the first day" (Vayikra 23:40).

6 congregation are sitting, and then again sound a tekiah and a teruah when they are standing? In order to confuse the Satan" (Rosh Hashana 16a-b.) What is the meaning behind this cryptic statement? Tosafos comment: "the Aruch explains based on the Yerushalmi: it is stated: ובלע המות לנצח 'He will eliminate death forever' (Yeshayahu 25:8), and it is written: 'it shall be on that day that a great shofar will be blown' (Yeshayahu 27:13). The Shofar is blown twice: when the Satan hears the sound of the shofar the first time, he will be slightly frightened, but when he hears it the second time (during Musaf) he will say: 'this must be the great shofar of 'on that day a great shofar will be blown' meaning it is time for the Satan to disappear. He will become confused and no longer have the ability to speak against the Jewish nation.'" (Death refers to evil, as we find in the Torah: "see I have placed before you today the life and the good, and the death and the evil" (Devarim 30:15) "I have placed life and death before you, blessing and curse; and you shall choose life, so that you will live, you and your offspring" (ibid. 19). What is the meaning of "He will eliminate death forever"? It means that when that day will arrive in which we will sing a new song there will be no more death, no more evil all will choose the path of life.) What does this mean? How is the Satan is confused and is he confused every year anew? How are we to understand this mystery? Perhaps we can understand Chazal in the following manner: When will the evil referred to in "He will eliminate death forever" cease to exist? When His Kingdom will be revealed. When He will become visible, when He will have arrived. Then the Truth will be revealed and everyone will choose it life, good, eternity: ובכן צדיקים יראו וישמחו וישרים יעלזו

7 וחסידים ברנה יגילו ועלתה תקפץ פיה וכל הרשעה כלה כעשן תכלה כי תעביר ממשלת זדון מן הארץ "And so, too, the righteous will see and be glad, the upright will exult, and the devout will be mirthful with glad song. Iniquity will close its mouth and all wickedness will evaporate like smoke, when You will remove evil's domination from the earth." "He is the Satan, he is the angel of death, he is the evil inclination, he descends to earth in order to mislead us and then he returns heavenward to testify against us" (Baba Basra 16a). All this will evaporate all will see the truth it will become clear that evil is nothing more than the haze smoke that covers the light nothing more! This is the power of that great shofar that will be blown "on that day"! Something similar takes place on Rosh Hashana something of great and awesome proportions. The Jewish people blow the shofar in fulfillment of the Torah command: בחדש השביעי באחד לחדש יהיה לכם שבתון זכרון תרועה מקרא קדש "In the seventh month, on the first of the month, there shall be a rest day for you, a remembrance with shofar blasts" (Vayikra 23:24). The Sforno comments:

8 "A remembrance of royal trumpet blasts which the people rejoice in their King, as it says: 'sing joyously to the G-d of our strength, call out to the G-d of Yaakov' (Tehillim 81:2). We sound the shofar blasts in honor of the arrival of the King, as we will to announce the arrival of Moshiach. In those days, the Satan will shrivel, there is no room for the yetzer hara in the heart of one who beholds the King. The question is will this feeling remain with us even after Rosh Hashana or will it become just another passing phenomenon? Will the King pass from our hearts or will the impression remain within us forever? Will the teruah we have heard be transformed into the sound of the great Shofar? What we have just said can be found hidden within the words of the Yerushalmi cited by Tosafos which we have cited above: Tosafos writes: It is written: "He will eliminate death forever"(yeshayahu 25:8), and it is written: 'it shall be on that day that a great shofar will be blown' (Yeshayahu 27:13): when the Satan hears the sound of the shofar for the first time, he will be slightly frightened" At this point he feels he has nothing to fear, the Jewish people will never discover the Truth. It is Satan's fervent hope that what we have just experienced is a mere passing light. We will soon forget about it and return to our old ways. " But when he hears the second sounding of the Shofar: ("we sound a tekiah and a teruah when the congregation are sitting, and then again sound a tekiah and a teruah when they are standing), he will say: "this

9 must be the great shofar referred to in 'on that day a great shofar will be blown'." In the words of Rashi: "When he hears how much the Jewish people love mitzvos", when he sees that the Jewish people continue to accept the Kingdom of heaven from the depths of their hearts, Satan becomes frightened - perhaps this time the sound of the Kingdom of Hashem will remain in their hearts. In that case he must shrivel up and disappear - he must "evaporate like smoke". He will become confused, he will be unable to lead the Jewish people astray and unable to speak against them - there is no place for his evil in the hearts of believing servants of Hashem. Chazal, here have portrayed for us the essence of the day. The few hours of Rosh Hashana provide us with a taste of the days of Moshiach. We have a golden opportunity for this feeling to remain with us - we can transform the sounds of our shofar to "the great shofar that will be blown". "FOR HE WILL HAVE ARRIVED, HE WILL HAVE ARRIVED TO JUDGE THE EARTH" The Ramchal writes: "the significance of sounding the shofar on Rosh Hashanah is related to fact that on this day G-d judges all the world. On Rosh Hashana, G-d renews all creation as part of a new cycle, namely a new year." (Derech Hashem section 4, chapter 8). Every year is a new creation. The world has a purpose, an ultimate goal. The world is a world of choice until the time when "the world (will be) perfected through the A-mighty's Sovereignty" referring to the days of Moshiach.

10 The judgment of Rosh Hashana determines the fate of the upcoming year how does it fit into this vast universe which is marching onwards towards fulfillment of the purpose of creation. What will this upcoming year look like? ועל המדינות בו יאמר איזו לחרב ואיזו לשלום איזו לרעב ואיזו לשבע "Regarding countries it is said on this day: which is destined for the sword and which for peace, which for hunger and which for abundance", Peace, war perhaps somewhere in between tension, hunger, abundance, economic stability. Everything forms of that puzzle which is the ultimate goal of creation. What role will each of us play? Who will lead us there? There will be new appointments, new soldiers in this marvelous system, new clerks, new CEOs, new officers " and creatures are recalled on it to remember them for life or death." "Who by water and who by fire, who by the sword who who who who will become impoverished and who will become enriched, who will be degraded and who will be exalted." All of this will be determined during these coming days. "He has arrived to judge the earth." The Ramchal also writes: "on the day of Rosh Hashana, the Master Blessed is He, stands as King over His world and this is therefore an auspicious moment to pray before Him that He completely reveal His sovereignty to the world?"

11 Why the emphasis on completely revealing His sovereignty? This is what we have just discussed on Rosh Hashana we experience the fact that "He has arrived", the revelation of His Kingdom in the world and the possibility of transforming this revelation to the sounding of the shofar signaling the arrival of Moshiach. Our prayer is that He completely reveal His Kingdom in the world. What does it mean "To pray before Him"? It is to feel deep in my heart that this is truly what I yearn for, that "He completely reveal His sovereignty in the world" - that the awesomeness of this day never leave me. Not only should it not escape but the feeling should increase until "He completely reveals His sovereignty". This is the idea of קבלת עול מלכות שמים - accepting upon ourselves the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven - to be ready to recognize and acknowledge the Truth and to follow the illuminated path without subservience to evil temptations. RECITE BEFORE ME "It was taught in a Baraisa R' Yehuda related in the name of R' Akiva Hashem said: 'recite before Me on Rosh Hashana verses of Malchuyos (Kingship), Zichronos (Remembrance), and Shofaros. Kingship in order to accept My Sovereignty upon yourselves, verses of Remembrance, so that your remembrance should rise before Me favorably, and with what should these verses be recited? With the Shofar" (Rosh Hashana 16a). R' Akiva is relaying to us a message in the Name of Hashem: "'we have heard about the awesomeness of the day from Hashem's perspective 4, but how must we relate to this day? What must we do? 4 The revelation of His Kingdom - similar to the days of Moshiach.

12 "Recite before me verses of Malchuyos." It does not say to simply "recite verses", rather "recite before Me" - deep down in the innermost chamber of your heart. Malchuyos - crown Me as King over you. How much more difficult is this in our generation. It appears as if everything around us is collapsing. Where is emunah? What happened to belief in the A-mighty? On Rosh Hashana it is forbidden to criticize or to bring up anything negative against Klal Yisrael. However, we must listen carefully to the Hashem's great call on this day many generations ago. On the first Rosh Hashana of Creation Hashem called out to Adam HaRishon: "?איכה" "where are you?" (Bereishis 3:9). What happened to you? How did you fall so far? How did you go from being so great to so small? Hashem reiterates this question every year: "my beloved children, children of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov - where are you? What happened? How did you sink so low? How many of our brethren are wandering around unable to even recite the words of Shma Yisrael? Where is their emunah??איכה Where are you?" I would venture to say that this problem is not limited to them, what about us? Are we living a life of emunah? I have not come to criticize, on the contrary let us dare to answer Hashem's question of "where are you?" "Avinu Malkenu, our Father our King, do You know what caused all this? The fact that You have concealed Yourself from us. You have fulfilled Your promise of: "I will surely have concealed My face" (Devarim 31:18). You have hidden Yourself time and again - You have punished us, exiled us, You have caused us indescribable suffering. Is it any wonder? Why not try bringing us

13 closer - punishing us and distancing Yourself from us hasn't worked. We beg You "bring us closer - please reveal Yourself to us!" "Instill Your awe upon all Your works, תן פחדך ה ' אלקינו על כל מעשיך ואימתך על כל מה שבראת וייראוך כל המעשים וישתחוו לפניך כל הברואים And Your dread upon all that You have created. Let all works revere You and all creatures prostrate themselves before You." Even after viewing us and our brethren in a favorable light, with the utmost understanding of why we are who we are, Hashem still calls out: "where are you?" We must listen to this resounding call and strengthen our emunah. "Recite before Me verses of Kingship" Hashem did not only command us to recite verses of Kingship. He wants Zichronot - verses of Remembrance - as well. Remembrance is the essence of Kingship. By reciting verses of Remembrance we are declaring our belief in: "You remember the deeds done in he universe Nothing is hidden from before Your eyes Everything is revealed and known before You אתה זוכר מעשה עולם... ואין נסתר מנגד עיניך הכל גלוי וידוע לפניך... מחשבות אדם ותחבלותיו Man's thoughts and and schemes and the motives behind mans deeds" ויצרי מעללי איש The Rosh writes in Orchos Chayim: "you must feel trust in Hashem with all your heart and you must believe in His Divine Individual Providence. In this way you will feel His Uniqueness with all your heart. You will then truly believe that

14 His eyes can scan the entire universe and that He can see into man's heart and insides. The Ten Commandments begin with "I am Hashem, your G-d, Who has taken you out of the land of Egypt" (Shmos 20:2) - whoever does not believe that "I have taken you out of the land of Egypt", does not believe that "I am Hashem, your G-d" - it is all part of the same thing - it is the Uniqueness of Hashem. The greatness the Jewish people have over other nations is their belief in this Uniqueness - that He and only He took us out of Egypt and He and only He is our G-d. This is the foundation for the entire Torah. Ani Ma'amin - I believe with complete faith that Hashem sees everything - He guides every step I take, He navigates the ship, the Jewish nation, the Holy Land, and the entire world As I mentioned, reaching such a level is a much more difficult task in our generation than it was in the previous ones. I am not criticizing, chalilah, but just read the newspapers, listen to press reports they know the reasons for everything - he did such and such, this one traveled to this place, that one acted like this, the other one met so and so, he traveled, he acted, he met, this country did this, this president did that, the army reacted in a particular way. They believe that they are controlling the world! Where is HaKadosh Baruch Hu? They are causing us to forget His existence. But the absolute Truth is: הכל גלוי וידוע לפניך ה ' אלקינו צופה ומביט עד סוף כל הדורות ועל המדינות בו יאמר איזו לחרב ואיזו לשלום איזו לרעב ואיזו לשבע "Everything is revealed and known before You, Hashem, our G-d, Who keeps watch and sees to the very end of all generations Regarding countries, it is said on this day, Which is destined for the sword and which for peace, Which for hunger and which for abundance.

15 economy, water, wars, hunger, abundance, sword, peace it is all in Hashem's Hands. Belief in His Providence, this is truly Yichud Hashem, and this summarizes the second stage of the service of Rosh Hashana to believe in His Kingship and Providence. Malchuyot and Zichronot this is the greatness of the Jewish nation. WITH WHAT? WITH THE SHOFAR We crown Hashem with the sounding of the Shofar... but not just the act of blowing. The contents of the psukim recited in Shofarot complete our acceptance of His Sovereignty. אתה נגלית בענן כבודך על עם קדשך לדבר עמם... בהגלותך מלכנו על הר סיני ללמד לעמך תורה ומצות "You were revealed in Your cloud of glory to Your holy people to speak with them During Your revelation, our King, on Mount Sinai to teach Your people Torah and mitzvoth." Accepting upon ourselves the obligation to learn Torah and perform mitzvoth is a necessary component of accepting Hashem's Kingship without Torah and mitzvoth we have not accepted Hashem's Sovereignty! It is not enough just to believe, we need guidance. Baruch Hashem, the King Himself guides us and teaches how to act with every step we take. "During Your revelation, our King, on Mount Sinai to teach Your people Torah and mitzvoth."

16 This is עול מלכות שמים,קבלת acceptance of the Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven my absolute commitment to fulfill my obligations as a soldier in the army of Hashem. This is one element of Shofarot. The second element: ועל ידי עבדיך הנביאים כתוב לאמר... והיה ביום ההוא יתקע בשופר גדול "And through Your servants, the Prophets, the following is written: And it will be on that day that a great shofar will be blown." This implies clear belief that there will be a change. The final element of accepting Hashem's Sovereignty is belief in the arrival of Moshiach, in the revelation of Hashem's Glory, in fulfillment of the purpose of the creation. All this is included in תרועת מלך - the trumpet heralding the arrival of the King. Spiritually speaking, G-d forbid. Once again, I have not come to criticize, but just think for a moment how few of our brethren here in the Holy Land as well as the far corners of the earth will even fulfill the command "it shall be a day of shofar-sounding for you" (Bamdibar 29:1). How many are even aware that this world has a Commander that "Hashem is our G-d, Hashem is the One and Only". How many have even the remotest notion that they are children of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov our holy forefathers A frightening thought comes to mind: How can we remain such a small minority? How will we manage to survive?

17 ועל ידי עבדיך הנביאים כתוב לאמר... והיה ביום יתקע בשופר גדול ובאו האבדים... והנדחים... והשתחוו לה ' בהר הקדש בירושלים " "And through Your servants, the Prophets, the following is written: And it will be on that day that a great shofar will be blown, and then will come those lost and those cast away and they shall prostrate themselves to Hashem on the holy mountain in Jerusalem." This is written in a document bearing the signet of the King. He will fulfill His promise and He will do it soon, there is no doubt about this. It is therefore worth joining the King's legion and not remaining among those who are lost and cast away, may Hashem save them. This is our task on this great and awesome day let us review the words of the Ramchal once again: "on this day G-d judges all the world. On Rosh Hashana, G-d renews all creation as part of a new cycle, namely a new year." (Derech Hashem section 4, chapter 8). Tasks are being distributed towards fulfillment of the ultimate goal. It is incumbent upon us to appear before Him and to shout: "Hineni! Here I am! I am ready to fulfill any task required, I am eager to be a partner in bringing the purpose of the creation closer to reality " to make this proclamation with all our heart. Hashem is asking us to "recite before Me" to truly yearn for these incredible days to come. "The hour is ripe for praying that He shall completely reveal His Kingdom to the world". Perhaps we can say, however, that before this the hour is ripe that we pray that He completely reveal His Kingdom in the innermost chamber of our

18 hearts that the illumination of this day remain forever and that the impression grows and grows until it reaches immense proportions. This is the essence of the day: presenting ourselves to the King: "Hineni! Here I am, with all my heart." The task of the day: truas Melech, reciting Malchuyos with all our heart and standing before Him with a desire to retain the level that we have attained Any thinking person would take advantage of these wonderful days it does not take much. We do not even need to search for what is on the other side of the curtain we need just open our eyes, look, Hashem is right here. Don't be afraid, don't close your eyes out of fear of change. On the contrary, yearn to change with all your heart. "You shall choose life" yearn for that great Shofar and strongly desire to be a soldier in the battle towards accomplishing the ultimate purpose. We beseech Hashem: "Master of the Universe, when will this all end? You have arrived, please reveal Yourself to us: and then "Distant ones will hear and come, and they will present You with a crown of Kingship, may it occur speedily, speedily in our day. Amen veamen."