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What sticks out to you about Rosh Hashanah?

You might think first about apples and honey, hearing the shofar, or beginning a new year. But Hazal teach that Rosh Hashanah is also a day for תְּפִלָּה (tefillah, prayer), when God especially listens to prayer.
According to the Gemara, God tells us what to add to our prayers on Rosh Hashanah.

ראש השנה ט״ז א

אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: …אִמְרוּ לְפָנַי בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה מַלְכִיּוֹת זִכְרוֹנוֹת וְשׁוֹפָרוֹת. מַלְכִיּוֹת כְּדֵי שֶׁתַּמְלִיכוּנִי עֲלֵיכֶם. זִכְרוֹנוֹת כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה זִכְרוֹנְיכֶם לְפָנַי לְטוֹבָה. וּבַמֶּה? בְּשׁוֹפָר.

Rosh Hashanah 16a

The Holy Blessed One said: Say before Me on Rosh Hashanah: malkhuyot (verses about God as King), zikhronot (verses about God remembering), and shofarot (verses about the shofar). Malkhuyot—so that you will make Me King over you. Zikhronot—so that your remembrance will rise before Me for good. And with what? With the shofar.

Notice the words אִמְרוּ לְפָנַי (imru lefanai, “say before Me”). These emphasize that Rosh Hashanah is a day for speaking to God.
The Gemara also explains what our prayers on this day are meant to accomplish. When we pray, we make God our King, and we ask God to remember us for good. And the shofar helps those tefillot rise before God.
This explains why we spend so much time in shul on Rosh Hashanah. This holiday gives us an opportunity to connect to God through prayer.

What does it mean to make God our King through prayer?
What kinds of things do you hope God remembers about you this year?
Why do you think the shofar is connected to prayer?

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Hadar Institute

The Calendar עִנְיְנֵי דְּיוֹמָא

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