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אַ בְ רְָל שֶׁ ר ־ יֲָא מִּ צְ רִַה ת ־ בֶּ ן ־ הָ גֶָא ָ צַ חְֵמ
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קֹ לְָבּ
קֹ לְָבּ
קָּ רִֵי צְ חָ֔ קִי
Remembering for a New Year Shalom Orzach
The Festival of Rosh Hashanah has many names reflecting the many facets and identities of the chag . Intriguingly it is also known as Yom Hazikaron ; A Day of Remembering . Whilst all of our festivals focus and are based on memory , what makes this festival different from all others ?
These memories are shaped through the choice of the stories we recall . The Torah offers endless possibilities to inform and complement this period of introspection , they could include reminders of how to treat the vulnerable , perhaps retrace some of the escapades in the desert , the story of the Creation ( this day also marks that occasion ). Yet it is striking that we limit our readings to stories involving Abraham , Sarah , and Isaac together with Hagar and Yishmael . Granted these speak to the themes , but why not also include other texts ?
The reading on the first day of Rosh Hashanah , from Bereishit 21:1-34 , records the birth of Yitzchak . There is much laughter and merriment , but with a distressing play on the word in verse 9
And ֵתַּו ֨ ֶרא שָׂ רָ ֜ ה ֧ ר ית ֽ לדְ ה֥ ם֖ ָה ֽ ק Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian , whom she had borne to Abraham , “ making merry ”; The merriment is marred . Sarah insists that both Hagar and Yishmael be banished . It appears that Abraham did not see what Sarah saw and he was
ַמְשׁ ע֣ ֑ הּ ... ; intervenes pained by this request . God hearken to her voice , for in Isaac ִכּי֣ ְב ֥ א ְל X֖ רֽ ָז ע will be called your seed . There is an almost tragic yet mischievous play on the very same word , your legacy will be one of Yitzchak-- “ laughter .”
The expression ַמְשׁ ע֣ ֑ ה ּ listen to her voice evokes one of the central themes and prayers of the Days
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