LESHON IMA — MOTHER TONGUE
Rosh Hashanah - beginning of the year nah is tekiat shofar, the blowing of the shofar, an ancient wind instrument made of a ram’s horn. The word shofar is related to the Akkadian word Dr. Rachel sapparu meaning wild goat. The Zohar Dulin shofar is blown in the synagogue many times during the autumn holidays, reminiscent of the biblical custom to declare Rosh Hashanah, which cona holiday season (Lev. 25:9). jures a mood of contemplation It is also a reminder of the and self-examination, gives the biblical Yom T’ruah, the day of tone to the observance of the blowing the shofar, the antecedholidays. ent to Rosh Hashanah, which It sets the stage to a short, yet was observed on the first day of intensive period of a personal the seventh month of the biblispiritual voyage, which leads to cal calendar (Num. 29:1). teshuvah, the returning to faith Last but not least, the oband forgiveness. servance of Rosh Hashanah The name Rosh Hashanah brings to mind the prayer and befits the day which begins the hope to be inscribed in Sefer the year. The first word, rosh, Hachayim, the Book of Life, for a means head or beginning. good and healthy life. There are many terms in The reference to this celestial Hebrew where rosh is at the book was already mentioned in the Bible (Ps. 69:29), but not in connection with the new year. It is only later in Jewish tradition the hope to be inscribed other Jewish groups are counContinued from Page 13 in Sefer Hachayim became an seling war with Iran. Free Iran, and appeared to integral part of the holiday supObama in his speech at conflate them with other ads plications. American did say that “many that liken Obama to Neville The traditional blessing Chamberlain, the British prime of the same people who argued l’shannah tova tikatevu, may you for the war in Iraq are now minister widely seen as having making the case against the Iran be inscribed to a good year, is appeased Hitler. rooted in this hope. nuclear deal.” The CNFI ad addresses the Yet he also explicitly distinsubstance of the deal and “does guished opponents whose skep- Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin is a not single out the president in professor of biblical literature at ticism for the deal stems from any way,” Cohen said in the support for Israel from Republi- Spertus College in Chicago and email. can partisans, whom he accused an adjunct professor of Bible and Online, some Obama critics Hebrew at New College of Florida. of beating the drums for war, lost no time in drawing a line and he expressed sympathy for between the Daily Kos cartoon the pro-Israel outlook. and Obama’s rhetoric defend“I do think it is important to ing the deal. “The president’s dog whistles acknowledge another more understandable motivation behind are heard by the president’s the opposition to this deal, or at dogs,” David Frum, a former least skepticism to this deal,” he speechwriter for President said, “and that is a sincere affinGeorge W. Bush and now a ity for our friend and ally Israel. senior editor at The Atlantic, An affinity that, as someone tweeted. who has been a stalwart friend A number of conservative commentators had already said to Israel throughout my career, I deeply share.” that Obama was insinuating Notably, the distinction antisemitic tropes about dual between pro-Israel and partisan loyalty in addresses he has deRepublican opposition to the livered defending the deal. deal came a day after the White Elliott Abrams, a deputy national security adviser under House meeting with Jewish Bush who is now a fellow at the leaders. Temple Anshe Emeth Those attending the meetCouncil on Foreign Relations, Piqua, OH ing said Obama had agreed to said that Obama in an Aug. 5 make the distinction clear going address at American University insinuated that AIPAC and forward. Like every year at this season, we observe the fall holidays starting with Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the Jewish year, continuing with the observance of Yom Kippur and ending with the happy celebrations of Sukkot and Simchat Torah.
head. For example, rosh chodesh means the beginning of the month, and rosh memshalah the head of the government, the prime minister. Yoshev rosh is a chairman and keev rosh is a headache. Koved rosh, literally heavy head, implies seriousness and kalut rosh, light-mindedness, implies frivolity. The second word, shanah, means year. It is based in the verb shanah meaning change and may have originally referred to the change of seasons. Shanah, too, is at the center of many concepts. For example, shanah beshanah means annually, yom hashanah means anniversary, and luach shannah means calendar. Beginnings are often marked with ritual. A ritual that comes to mind related to Rosh Hasha-
Iran debate devolves
L’Shanah Tovah
Wishing you a new year of health, happiness and peace
L’Shanah Tovah
Cantor Andrea Raizen
The Garfunkel Family
May the year ahead be blessed with good health & cheer
Wishing you a new year of health, happiness and peace
Jeff, Rina, Daniel & Avrey Thau
Art & Joan Greenfield
L’Shanah Tovah
Best wishes for a happy, healthy new year
George & Judi Grampp
Andrea Rabiner & Family
Wishing you a new year of health, happiness and peace
New Year’s Greetings
Joyce & Chuck Kardon
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • SEPTEMBER 2015
from
Russ Remick
PAGE 39