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| Rosh Hashanah: Personal Judgment |
Nine Blessings
The longest prayer of the year is the Musaf
prayer of Rosh Hashanah. The Talmud in Berachot 29a
teaches that this prayer is connected to Hannah, the
mother of the prophet Samuel:
Rosh Hashanah, at the start of the new year, is a time when all creatures
are judged by God. The Sages used the imagery of a shepherd who inspects
his sheep as they pass, one by one, under his staff. Such is God's judgment
on Rosh Hashanah; the Divine inspection is not only on the level of nations
and species, but also for each individual
What is the significance of the number nine? If we analyze numbers,
we find that ten indicates a unit that is also a group of smaller units. The
number nine, on the other hand, emphasizes the individuality of each unit,
without being combined into a larger group. Nine is therefore an excellent
choice for a number emphasizing the aspect of Rosh Hashanah as a time of
personal judgment for each individual.
Hannah's Prayer
Is there a deeper connection between Hannah and our Rosh Hashanah
prayer?
Hannah was naturally barren. Medically, she was incapable of
bearing a child. Yet she pleaded for a child by virtue of her personal merits
and intense yearnings. She beseeched God for special assistance, beyond
that which was decreed on a general, natural basis. Hannah's prayers truly
exemplify the aspect of Divine providence for the individual, to the extent
that Divine intervention was necessary in order to fulfill her request.
Especially on Rosh Hashanah, we need to impress upon ourselves how
God judges each individual. When we are able to truly internalize this
concept, we are motivated to correct our deeds and actions. And the moral
elevation of each individual will bring about the overall repair of society and
the entire world.
(Silver from the Land of Israel, pp. 47-48. Adapted from Ein Eyah vol. I on Berachot 29a (4:44).)
Copyright © 2010 by Chanan Morrison
"Why are there nine blessings in the Rosh Hashanah prayer?
Because Hannah mentioned God's Name nine times in her prayers
for a son. For it was taught: [The prayers of] Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah were answered on Rosh Hashanah."