Rosh Hashanah 5782 Connecting and Reconnecting

by Rabbi Raphael Katz

Rav Kook makes a fascinating observation regarding Rosh Hashanah night.

On each chag the mitzvah of the chag is observed also at night.

On Sukkot, we are commanded to sit in the sukkah at least on the first night.

On Pesach, we are commanded to eat shmurah matzah on Seder night.

On Shavuot, we have a custom of “tikkun leil” – learning the entire night.

On Yom Kippur, fasting begins from nightfall.

Question:

On Rosh Hashanah, what mitzvah is performed at night?! The only mitzvah of the day, hearing the shofar, is done only during the day.

Answer 1:

The “technical” answer is, that Rosh Hashanah is a day of Judgement and judgement in Jewish law takes place only during the day, hence there is no mitzvah associated with judgement on Rosh Hashanah eve.

Answer 2:

Rav Kook explains that in fact there is a Rosh Hashanah mitzvah at night! and that is to wish one’s friend a “הביתכ הבוט המיתחו’’ — that one’s friend be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life.

Note, the Rema [Ch’ 582], uniquely codifies the nusach of blessing on Rosh Hashanah night.

Nowhere in Shulchan Aruch is there mention of having to greet one’s friend with a “Shabbat Shalom” or “Gut Yom Tov” greeting.

By blessing one’s friend on the night of Rosh Hashanah we are connecting with one another and strengthening our communal bond. This serves as a mitzvah of preparation for the Judgement, which takes place in the day and also is of a collective nature.

Rav Kook clarifies:

The Torah states that Hashem is constantly vigilant over Eretz Yisrael, ensuring that the land receives rain to sustain it.

“…The eyes of God are on it at all times, from the beginning of the year until the end of the year”. (Devarim 11:12).

The Talmud Rosh Hashanah derives a second meaning from the above passuk regarding rain, namely that the