"Moshe said to them, 'I am one hundred and twenty years old today" (Devarim 31:2). Meaning, "'Today' is the exact day that my years have become complete. On this very day (the seventh of Adar) I was born, and on this day I will die." In light of this, the verse says, "HaShem knows the days of the wholehearted" (Tehillim 37:18). Just as they are wholehearted, so too, their years are whole. HaShem grants full years from the day of their birth to the day of their death. Just as a perfect circle is perfectly round, so too, the tzadikim have no "rough edges." All of their deeds and everything they have, even their days and years, form a perfect circle of goodness.
The perfection of a tzadik is his wholehearted love for HaShem and all of His creations. Therefore, the tzadik relates to every being with love, peace, and joy. Just as his love is whole, so too, HaShem blesses him with whole years.
Envision the joyous countenance of Moshe Rabenu. He has no contention with any man. All the days of his life are filled with love, peace, and joy. He loves HaShem and all of His creations. HaShem grants him a full one hundred and twenty years, in accordance with his pure and unadulterated wholeheartedness.
(Based on the commentary of Rashi and Da'as Torah of Rav Yerucham)
Dedicated L'Refuah Shleimah for Rav Moshe ben Devorah
The Torah advises us to approach Rosh HaShanah with absolute confidence that HaShem will find us meritorious. Therefore, we trust that we will emerge from the day in great happiness and joy.
However, Rosh HaShanah is a day of judgement. All of our deeds are weighed and our fate is decided for "life or death." We know that we have not always done our best. If so, why are we advised to assume a confident attitude?
The following parable sheds light on this question: Once a king invited all of the citizens to attend a royal banquet. He had his chefs prepare the most delicious and plentiful meals. Moreover, the king himself attended the banquet and sat amongst the people, on his golden thrown. The good king listened to everyone's request and granted whatever they desired.
So too, on Rosh HaShanah, HaShem, prepares for us a spiritual banquet and invites us to attend. He reveals Himself, dwelling amongst us in the great light of Rosh HaShanah. He extends His mercy and love to all of His people, as we say in our Rosh HaShanah prayer, "Who is like You, Merciful Father, Who compassionately remembers all of His creations for life."
The understanding that HaShem is our Merciful Father, Who love us, and Whose only desire is to grant us every blessing, is the true knowledge of "knowing HaShem." When we approach Rosh HaShanah with this awareness, we will be confident that HaShem, our merciful Father, will find us worthy for life.
Our recognition of HaShem's goodness, mercy, and kindness is the very purpose of our existence. The attainment of this true understanding of HaShem - is the very factor - that merits our being pleasing to HaShem!
May we reflect upon HaShem's unconditional love for us, His unabated mercy, and His unceasing kindness. As a result of our "knowing HaShem" we will be confident that He will find us meritorious in judgement - and bless us and all Israel with countless blessings of peace, joy, and deliverance!
TODAY: Envision yourself emerging from Rosh HaShanah with great joy, closeness to HaShem, and countless blessings!
