Illuminating the Essence of the Yomim Noraim Chaim - Real Life (Rosh Hashana 5786)
Sep 16, 2025
Rabbi Meir Bulman delves into the unique language of the Mishnah regarding Rosh Hashanah, pondering why it avoids the term 'judgment'. He explores the deep significance of 'all who come into the world' and what it truly means to be 'alive'. The discussion contrasts instinct-driven animals with humans who possess free will, emphasizing our ability to choose purposefully. The role of the shofar is examined as a catalyst for revitalizing our life-force. Finally, insights on teshuva reflect on resetting our spiritual lives and embracing our roles as disruptors in history.
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Passing Before God Means Moving
- Rosh Hashanah's Mishnah describes people as "kol ba'ay olam" passing before God, not using the term judgment explicitly.
- This unusual phrasing signals a focus on who moves in the world, not legal tallying of sins.
Chayim As Self-Propulsion
- The Hebrew word chayim extends beyond mere life to mean self-propulsion or intrinsic motion.
- The Ibn Ezra explains Elohim Chayim as God being uniquely self-propelling, the source rather than the reactor.
Choice Defines Human Life
- Humans differ from animals because they possess koach ha-bechira, the power to choose against instinct.
- That capacity lets humans truly be 'alive' by self-directing rather than merely reacting.