Tishrei. Moznayim. Libra. Scale.
Balance. Equilibrium. Stability.
In the celestial spheres at the dawning of the month of Tishrei a triangle of stars forms the constellation in the shape of moznayim a scale. It hovers there for all to witness poised and at the ready to gauge the worthiness of humankind. Man’s fate hangs literally in the balance – as all of humanity’s deeds of the forgoing year are about to be appraised evaluated and judged.
The first of Tishrei celebrates the creation of man who in relatively short order committed a first – the first human faux pas. And G-d thus judged man for the first time declaring it a Judgment Day for all time.
Though Adam did teshuvah and was ultimately forgiven for his sin the damage was done. The bright light dimmed man’s colossal stature diminished and consummate holiness and perfection reverted to the Source where it awaits a new dawn.
In the interim each Rosh Hashanah affords man the propitious occasion to bring sanctity to the fore to incrementally repair the damage wrought by our antecedent and to perfect the teshuvah for the infamous transgression that hatched that pesky impedimentary wrangling between our yetzer tov and yetzer hora (good and bad inclinations).
A Season For All Men
It is five thousand seven-hundred and sixty-five years since G-d created the realm that we know as our world – and what loftier way to celebrate our collective birthday than by searching our souls and purging ourselves of defilement accumulated over the course of the year?
Can one conceive of arriving at the end of our days without benefit of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur of reaching the Court on High carrying our onerous collection of sins accrued over a lifetime? The stain and dirt would be so entrenched that no amount of scrubbing or self-reproach would suffice to reveal the original glittering diamond languishing beneath that thick layer of grime.
How benevolent then is our G-d Who grants us this awe-inspiring time at which to get in touch with our higher selves to communicate with our King our Maker in purified mode of mind and heart.
While our conflicting tendencies unremittingly quibble and quarrel even as we near that fearsome roaring lion (aryeh – acronym for Elul; Rosh Hashanah; Yom Kippur; Hoshana Rabba) our minds ruminate: What is this life all about? Does it come down to awakening to the shrill jangling of an alarm clock … rushing to and through minyan … fighting traffic … meter maids … exhaustion…? Is it about balancing checkbooks … schedules … chaos…?
In truth we are here to pick up the pieces – the sparks of holiness lodged in the forces that surround us that were strewn about in a space-shattering cosmic explosion – the consequence of the cunning serpent’s beguilement of Chava and Adam’s subsequent betrayal of his Creator. Each mitzvah we perform all acts of benevolence each prayer and every blessing uttered serve to extract and recover these sacred particles elevating us and our universe toward a higher degree of holiness with assurance of reward in the real world the World to Come.
In the process of fulfilling our divinely designated roles in this rehearsal of sorts the battling forces within and around us smudge taint and contaminate our souls. With deeply troubled hearts and a burdensome bundle of iniquities we welcome this opportunity for reprieve imminently at hand…
Divine Association
The astrological nature of this month (Tishrei) is mating. Appropriate for it memorializes the first couple’s anniversary and apt as we seek to unify with our Maker. Our engagement takes place during Elul (acronym: ani l’dodi v’dodi li – I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me).
