Yom Teru’ah – A Day of Everlasting Awakening!
The only biblical references to this period of these Days of Awe, beginning with Rosh HaShanna, we are about to enter is found in Leviticus/VaYikra 23:23, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall you have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of horns, a holy gathering.” And the other in Numbers/BaMidbar 29:1, “And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy gathering; you shall do no labor; it is a day of blowing (the horn) for you.”
In each there is no mention of Rosh HaShanna rather – יום תרועה – A blasting day.
There are commentators that take this verse and apply it to the mitzvah of hearing the Shofar. The Talmud (Tractate Megillah 20a) explains that from here we learn that the Shofar is permitted to be heard all day, any time of the day – as it is said יוֹם תְּרוּעָה – a day of blasting.
R’ Shalom Noach Barzofsky, an early 20th century Hasidic master, explains, the language being used, “you should have a day of blasting”, יוֹם תְּרוּעָה יִהְיֶה לָכֶם: is not in command form, it does not tell us to “go and blast the shofar” as it would have said: Litko’ah shofar, to blow the Shofar. Rather, the language is passive. He goes on to explain that Rosh HaShanna, the essence of the day itself, is a Yom Teru’a, the essence of the day is constant blast – an everlasting awakening – one huge spiritual blast.
I pray that we all merit a taste of such an experience, allowing ourselves spiritual elevation, awakening and revelation.
Wishing all of Am Yisrael good health, great joy, and purpose, and may this year be better than the last.
Shana Tova U’Metukah!
