Rosh Hashanah: Haftarah
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Haftarah הפטרה
One of the most important stories about תְּפִלָּה (tefillah, prayer) is the story of Hannah.
Hannah desperately wanted a child, but she could not become pregnant. Every year, Hannah and her extended family traveled to the Mishkan in Shiloh. One year, when Hannah went to the Mishkan, she prayed there with extra intensity.
Hannah desperately wanted a child, but she could not become pregnant. Every year, Hannah and her extended family traveled to the Mishkan in Shiloh. One year, when Hannah went to the Mishkan, she prayed there with extra intensity.
(י) וְהִ֖יא מָ֣רַת נָ֑פֶשׁ וַתִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל עַל־יְהֹוָ֖ה וּבָכֹ֥ה תִבְכֶּֽה׃ (יא) וַתִּדֹּ֨ר נֶ֜דֶר וַתֹּאמַ֗ר יְהֹוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת אִם־רָאֹ֥ה תִרְאֶ֣ה ׀ בׇּעֳנִ֣י אֲמָתֶ֗ךָ וּזְכַרְתַּ֙נִי֙...
She was bitter in spirit and she prayed to God and she cried deeply.
She made a vow and said: “God, if You will truly see the suffering of Your servant and remember me….”
Hannah prayed quietly. Her lips moved, but no one could hear what she said. Eli, who was the כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל (kohen gadol, high priest), saw what she was doing and thought she was drunk! Hannah explained to him that she was sad, so she was pouring her soul out before God.
Eli blessed Hannah that her prayers should come true, and sure enough, Hannah soon gave birth to a son. He was Shmuel, and he would eventually become a great prophet.
After Shmuel grew up a little bit, Hannah brought him back to the Mishkan. Then she prayed again, this time to express her thanks to God.
And when did all this happen? Here’s what the Gemara says:
Eli blessed Hannah that her prayers should come true, and sure enough, Hannah soon gave birth to a son. He was Shmuel, and he would eventually become a great prophet.
After Shmuel grew up a little bit, Hannah brought him back to the Mishkan. Then she prayed again, this time to express her thanks to God.
And when did all this happen? Here’s what the Gemara says:
בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה נִפְקְדוּ שָׂרָה רָחֵל וְחַנָּה.
On Rosh Hashanah, Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah were remembered.
These three women all longed for children, and each of them had to wait a long time before becoming pregnant. According to Rashi, the Gemara is teaching us that each of them had their prayers heard on Rosh Hashanah—that was the day when God decided they would each have a baby.
This is why we read the story of Hannah as the haftarah on Rosh Hashanah! It shows how meaningful and powerful prayer can be on this day.
Notice how many tefillah words appear in Hannah’s story:
וַתִּתְפַּלֵּל (she prayed)
וּבָכֹה תִבְכֶּה (she cried deeply)
וּזְכַרְתַּנִי (“remember me”)
Rosh Hashanah is a time to do these things like Hannah: pray, cry, and ask God to remember us. Hannah teaches that tefillah is not only saying the words in a Siddur or Mahzor. It is bringing your real feelings and needs before God.
This is why we read the story of Hannah as the haftarah on Rosh Hashanah! It shows how meaningful and powerful prayer can be on this day.
Notice how many tefillah words appear in Hannah’s story:
וַתִּתְפַּלֵּל (she prayed)
וּבָכֹה תִבְכֶּה (she cried deeply)
וּזְכַרְתַּנִי (“remember me”)
Rosh Hashanah is a time to do these things like Hannah: pray, cry, and ask God to remember us. Hannah teaches that tefillah is not only saying the words in a Siddur or Mahzor. It is bringing your real feelings and needs before God.
- Why might Hannah’s story be important to think about as we begin the new year?
- Hannah prayed for the thing that was most important to her. What are the important things that you are praying for this Rosh Hashanah?
- Hannah didn’t hide her sadness from God. Her prayer was open, emotional, and honest. What helps you to pray honestly, and really express yourself to God, like Hannah did?
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