Blow that Ram’s Horn

The anniversary of the day that G-d created the world is regarded as the Jewish New Year – Rosh Hashanah. Traditionally to announce that G-d was the one who created the world and is still the One looking over it and ruling it, the celebration begins with a prescribed blowing of the shofar (a ram’s horn). Once the shofar if blown, it begins a 10-day period of deep self-examination and repentance leading to Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur as it is said in Scripture:

“On the first day of the seventh month observe a special day of rest, and come together for worship when the trumpets sound.” – Leviticus 23 ^{23-24 (GNT)}

A call to true repentance was strongly urged by the prophet Joel not to just go through the mere motions of repentance, but to truly turn away from the sin and sincerely obey G-d.

‘”But even now,” says the Lord, “repent sincerely and return to [M]e with fasting and weeping and mourning.  let you broken heart show your sorrow, and tearing your clothes is not enough.” – Joel 2 ^{12-13:a (GNT)}

It is fascinating to see what Joel is alluding to.  Joel was saying that on one hand it was to avoid G-d’s wrath, and on the other was enjoy the grace, mercy and love that G-d offers as it says in the words that follows the above scripture:

“Come back to the L-RD your G-d.  He is kind and full of mercy; [H]e is patient and keeps [H]is promise; [H]e is always ready to forgive and not to punish.” – Joel 2 ^{13:b (GNT)}

We think of G-d as being this angry person that is always looking of how to get us and punish us when we sin.  That G-d is somewhere out there with His hand poised to strike us down when we sin, or when things don’t go our way and bad things happen it is because G-d is callous; void of feeling -  vacuum sentiens.

But the words of Joel reminds us that the opposite is true.  G-d is slow to punish and “always ready to forgive.”

What is the best way to celebrate Rosh Hashanah some of you will say?  Let Him reinvigorate your heart through faith in that G-d is “full of mercy”, “patient”, “keeps [H]is promises”, “ready to forgive” and “not punish”.  Turn your desires toward Him.

“Repentance is the renewal of life. This means we must free ourselves from all our negative traits and turn toward absolute good. No sin is unforgivable except the sin of un-repentance.”