Rosh Hashanah acquired yet a third designation as yom hadin, the Day of Judgment, which, along with this holy day’s related status as the New Year, the Day of Remembrances.
Our Sages taught: The verse (Psalms 81:5) states: This is the day on which Your works began, a remembrance of the first day. It is a statute for Israel, judgment for the G‑d of Ya'akov. [In the Musaf prayer we continue:] And concerning the nations, it will be said then: Which for the sword and which for peace, which for famine and which for prosperity. And all beings will then be recounted to be remembered for life or for death.
Rosh Hashanah worship comprises the following six services (“orders of prayer”): ARVIT (ma’ariv), the evening service that ushers Rosh Hashanah in at sundown; PRELIMINARY (morning) SERVICE, including birkhat hashaḥar, commencing upon or after sunrise, followed by (or including) p’sukeí d’zimra—“introductory hymns and psalms”; SHAḤARIT, the morning service [proper], divided into the ordinary shaḥarit prayers that begin morning services and the succeeding shaḥarit shel rosh hashanah—the order of prayers specific to Rosh Hashanah; the TORAH SERVICE (seder k’ri’at sefer hatora), the assigned biblical readings preceded and followed by particular prayers and punctuated by the ceremony of shofar soundings (thirty of the required hundred blasts), sometimes called the “shofar service”; MUSAF; and MINḤA, the afternoon service.
Jewish tradition teaches it is not just Israel who is judged during the high holidays but all the nations of the World.
According to Jewish tradition, the creation of Adam and Eve on the sixth day of creation took place on Rosh HaShanah: “Rabbi Eliezer says: ‘The world was created in the month of Tishrei’” (b.Rosh HaShanah 10b). In turn, there is a special connection with Rosh HaShanah not only for the Jewish people but all of humanity.
This is why the petitions in the Rosh HaShanah Machzor are so universal. In fact, just as mankind was created on Rosh HaShanah, so they will be judged on that day as well.
All works shall fear you, and all creatures shall bow in worship before you. All of them shall do so as one group, performing your will wholeheartedly. (Shemoneh Esreh, Yom Kippur Machzor)
Just as a person’s merits and sins are weighed at the time of his death, so, too, the sins of every inhabitant of the world together with his merits are weighed on the festival of Rosh HaShanah. If one is found righteous, his verdict is sealed for life. If one is found wicked, his verdict is sealed for death. The beinoni (intermediate one) verdict remains tentative until Yom Kippur. If he repents, his verdict is sealed for life. If not, his verdict is sealed for death. (Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Teshuvah 3:3)
THANKSGIVING
We gratefully acknowledge that You are our G-d and G-d of our
people, the G-d of all generations.You are the Rock of our life, the
Power that shields us in every age.We thank You and sing Your
praises: for our lives, which are in Your hand; for our souls, which
are in Your keeping; for daily miracles and for Your wondrous gifts
at all times, morning, noon,
GENERAL PRAYERS
Avinu Malkeinu, hear our voice- Avinu Malkeinu, sh’ma koleinu,
“Avinu Malkeinu, Hear our prayer and have mercy upon us.”
Avinu Malkeinu, Give strength,to your people Israel- Avinu Malkeinu, hareim keren Yisrael amecha
Avinu Malkeinu, we have sinned against You- Avinu Malkeinu, chatanu l’fanecha
Avinu Malkeinu, have compassion on us and on our children
Avinu Malkeinu, make an end to sickness, war, and famine- Avinu Malkeinu, kaleih dever v’cherev v’ra-av mei-aleinu.
Avinu Malkeinu, make an end to all oppression- Avinu Malkeinu, kaleih kol tzar umastin mei-aleinu.
Avinu Malkeinu, inscribe us for blessing in the Book of Life- Avinu Malkeinu, kotveinu b’seifer chayim tovim
Avinu Malkeinu, be gracious and answer us, for we have little merit. Treat us generously and with kindness, and be our help- Avinu Malkeinu, choneinu va’aneinu, ki ein banu ma-asim,asei imanu tz’daka vachesed v’hoshi-einu.
Bar’chu et Adonai ham’vorach! Baruch Adonai ham’vorach l’olam va-ed!
Adonai, s’fatai tiftach ufi yagid t’hilatecha.
Eternal G-d, open my lips, that my mouth may declare your glory
Avinu Malkeinu, let the new year be a good year for us- Avinu Malkeinu, chadeish aleinu shanah tovah.
Shabbat Shalom- Gaddi Efrayim(President) - Beit Yisrael International
