Dedicated L'Refuah Shleimah for Rav Moshe ben Devorah
The Secret of Holiness of Rosh HaShanah
The Akedas Yitzchak -- the Binding of Isaac -- evokes eternal merit for Klal Yisrael. Indeed, the Shofar that we sound on Rosh HaShanah alludes to the Akedah, which took place on Rosh HaShanah.
The secret of the Akedah is revealed in the verse, "I will bow down toward your holy Temple." Yitzchak "bowed down" -- i.e., accepted -- HaShem's judgement requiring him to give his life as a sacrifice. Even more, he trusted that the judgment was holy, as the verse says, I will bow down towards your holy Temple."
His great faith in HaShem's judgement awakened the attribute of mercy and his judgment was rescinded. Yitzchak's recognition of the holiness of the judgment, is the reason for the awesome holiness of the Akedus Yitzchak.
The Shofar that we sound on Rosh HaShanah symbolizes the horn of the lamb that was sacrificed in place of Yitzchak. When the Shofar is sounded it awakens the merit of Akedah. That is the great mercy that was awakened by Yitzchak Avinu accepting his fate as a holy judgment of HaShem.
So too, on Rosh HaShanah when we hear the Shofar we acknowledge the holy judgment of HaShem. Just as HaShem had mercy on Yitzchak, so too, HaShem awakens mercy upon us and rescinds the the judgement. Indeed, the sounding of the Shofar inspires us to accept the judgment, and HaShem awakens His mercy upon us on two accounts. Firstly, on the merit of the Akedah of Yitzchak Avinu, and secondly, on our merit of accepting the holy judgment of HaShem.
When you hear the sound of the Shofar on Rosh HaShanah remember the Akedas Yitzchak. Acknowledge the holy judgments of HaShem, just as Yitzchak Avinu did thousands of years ago on Rosh HaShanah. And awaken HaShem's mercy and the rescinding of the judgement, for you, Klal Yisrael, and the entire world.
(Based on Tomer Devorah, Chapter Five)
