The Yom Tov of Rosh Hashanah is known by several different names, including Yom Teruah and Yom HaZikaron. Yet throughout Tanach, rather than these designations, the term HaYom, is often used to refer to Rosh Hashanah. (See Bereishis 22:14, Malachim II 4:8, Tehillim 119:91, Iyov 1:6, and more!) This would provide us with a powerful and compelling reason why Parshas Netzavim is consistently read on the Shabbos before Rosh Hashanah, as it portrays dramatically the Yom HaDin that we are about to face. Atem Netzavim HaYom kulchem lifnei Hashem Elokeichem – that very soon, we will all be standing before Hashem, HaYom, on the great and awesome day of Rosh Hashanah.
In Mussaf of Rosh Hashanah we say Hayom haras olam, hayom yaamid ba’mishpat kol yitzurei olamim – Today is the birthday of the world; today, all of creation will stand in judgment. Clearly, this tefillah is referring to Rosh Hashanah, and again we see that it is by use of the word HaYom. So, it begs the question: of all the potential terms that could be used to refer to Rosh Hashanah, why is the word HaYom chosen? HaYom means today, but “today” can refer to ANY day of the year! So why is HaYom the word the Torah chose to use?
As we know, whenever Amalek is mentioned in Tanach, his name is juxtaposed with the word machar, tomorrow. (See Shemos 17:9, Shmuel II 30:17, Esther 5:8, Esther 9:13.) When we deal with Amalek, it is always “tomorrow.” We learn from this that the middah of procrastination is embodied by Amalek. This trait of “tomorrow” must be completely uprooted from within us, because “machar” is one of the main methods utilized by the yetzer hara to encourage us to constantly come up short in fulfilling the ratzon of Hashem.
There are times when we may be inspired by something that we learn or by a shiur we attend or by an experience in life, or maybe even by a song that we hear! We tell ourselves that we’re going to make changes in how we conduct ourselves. But in comes the yetzer hara and implants “machar” into our minds: “Yes, that was a great shiur, yes that was an uplifting song; you should make those changes… just wait until tomorrow.” And when the next day dawns, the inspiration has subsided and the desire to change no longer burns within our hearts quite the same. And with that, the Satan has once again succeeded in stunting our spiritual growth.
Rav Gamliel HaKohen Rabinowitz teaches a great way to remember this important lesson. He says that the word אַתֶּם – as in אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים הַיּוֹם – is roshei teivos for אל תאמרו מחר, Don’t say “tomorrow!” By not falling for Amalek’s ploy, Netzavim – you will be successful and stand tall – on HaYom – Rosh Hashanah.
(Adapted with permission from The Mystery and the Majesty by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein, ArtScroll Mesorah)
🎼 Now I think we’re just about ready to introduce today’s song.
Following Sim Shalom at the end of the Yomim Noraim Mussaf, we readily reaffirm our allegiance to Hashem, acknowledging that our adherence to His Torah is our only hope to attain the Divine connection that we seek.
וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּה’ אֱ-לֹקֵיכֶם חַיִּים כֻּלְּכֶם הַיּוֹם
It is through our reawakened recognition of the importance of הַיּוֹם – the middah of not postponing until tomorrow the mitzvos we can do today – that we will merit an inscription in the Book of Life.
Immediately thereafter, the aron is opened one final time, and we proceed to eagerly express our prayerful pleas for an advantageous verdict:
הַיּוֹם תְּאַמְּצֵנוּ – Strengthen us Today
הַיּוֹם תְּבָרְכֵנוּ – Bless us Today
הַיּוֹם תְּגַדְּלֵנוּ – Make us great Today
הַיּוֹם תִּדְרְשֵׁנוּ לְטוֹבָה – Look out for our good Today
We once again invoke the attribute of HaYom, on the day of HaYom, to request that He bestow upon us everything that this day has to offer. Hashem, we now stand before You הַיּוֹם, on Rosh Hashanah, with a clear understanding of what it takes to do Your will and to achieve dveykus baHashem. It is with this prepared awareness that we wish to take advantage of TODAY ask You to grant us continued blessing and goodness – Amein!
🎶 Hayom T’amtzenu was composed by the masterful maestro Yonatan Razel and is sung by both Yonatan and by the brilliant British star Shloime Gertner on the latter’s 2016 album, Mincha. If the cover art is any indication, we have certainly established the notion that seizing the moment is the ultimate formula to emerge from the Yom HaDin with a kesiva v’chasima tovah, and I think this stunning selection brings the idea home in a most glorious way.
When I started this group a few years ago, I did so with this very same “הַיּוֹם” mindset.
‘There is no better day than today,’ I told myself, ‘and who knows if I’ll have the opportunity tomorrow?’
‘After all,’ I said, “life is much too short to wait around and find out.’
🙏🏼 We have come a long way, you and I, and I want to thank you for allowing me into your lives. Thank you for taking to heart the message of each post while silently suffering through all the terrible typos and egregious grammatical gaffes.
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the friendships that we have made and look forward to the journey that we will, with Hashem’s help, continue to make for many years to come. You truly make my every “today” a worthwhile day lived, and for that I am forever grateful.
Wishing each and every one of you an exalted Shabbos, a kesiva v’chasima tova and a gut g’bentcht yuhr!
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