ROSH
HASHANAH 5767-2006
"The Longest Day"
Rabbi
Ephraim Buchwald
If
you were asked, what day is the longest day of the year,
you would most likely respond that it is on or about
June 21st of each year. This day, known as the "Summer
Solstice" in the Northern Hemisphere, is the first
day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the start
of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. June 21st is thus
the longest day of sunlight for the Northern Hemisphere
and the shortest day for locations South of the Equator.
But
June 21st is not really the longest day of the year,
it is merely the longest day of sunlight in the Northern
Hemisphere. After all, every single day has exactly
24 hours.
So
let's start again. From a Jewish perspective, what day
of the Jewish calendar is probably regarded as the longest
day of the year? I think I hear a huge chorus saying:
"Yom Kippur." On the other hand, there are
a few voices of dissent that I hear coming from up in
the balcony saying: "It's Tishah B'Av, the fast
day commemorating the destruction of the Temples in
Jerusalem." After all, the fast of Yom Kippur is
usually over by 7:30 PM or 7:45 PM, while Tisha B'Av
often doesn't end until around 9:00 PM. But fast days
are not really longer than the other days, only more
arduous, making them seem longer.
There
is another day in the Jewish calendar that scholars
might argue is really the longest day of the
year, and that is Rosh Hashanah. In fact, in rabbinic
literature, Rosh Hashanah is known as Yoma Arikhta--one
very long day. You see, the rabbis consider both days
of Rosh Hashanah as one single day, an extended day
of 48+ hours.
It
is well known that outside of Israel many Jews observe
an extra day at the beginning and at the end of Passover
and Sukkot. Shavuot, a one day holiday in Israel, also
has an added day in the diaspora. These added days are
known as Yom Tov shay'nee shel gah'loo'yot--the
second festival day of the diaspora. Each of the added
days is a separate day, possessing virtually equal sanctity
to the preceding day. The reason for the second day
of the diaspora is because in ancient times the new
month was announced only after the new moon was sighted
as it appeared over the horizon. Witnesses came to Jerusalem
to testify that they had seen the new moon, and messengers
were sent to the various communities in Israel to declare
that Rosh Chodesh (the new moon festival) had commenced.
Since
Passover and Sukkot are both observed on the 15th day
of the Hebrew month, there was ample time to convey
the message and inform the various communities living
in Israel when to properly observe the festival. For
residents outside of Israel, sometimes 15 days was not
enough, so the rabbis added an extra day of observance
for those living in the Diaspora, to cover both possible
dates.
Since
Rosh Hashanah always occurs on the first day of Tishrei,
two witnesses were required to testify that they saw
the new moon. Unfortunately, if, on occasion, the witnesses
were delayed, the Temple services were delayed as well.
Because of this possible disruption, the rabbis declared
that after a certain time of the day, the witnesses'
testimony would not be accepted, and Rosh Hashanah was
observed on the following day. Since the people had
already begun observing the holiday on the first day,
the rabbis declared that both the first and second day
of Tishrei be observed as holidays. Eventually, in order
to permanently avoid these complications, Rosh Hashanah
was established as a two day holiday, with the second
day of Rosh Hashanah regarded not as a separate day,
but rather as an extension of the first, forming one
very long day.
Beyond
the logistical explanation for the added second day,
there is also the spiritual explanation for the added
day of Rosh Hashanah.
I
don't believe that there is a person alive who hasn't
at one point, and probably at many points, in his or
her life uttered a prayer for a little extra time. Time
to finish an important examination, time to extend a
vacation, time to be with a cherished friend, time to
take care of all those things that we never get around
to taking care of. Time, is surely the greatest gift.
Could
it be that beyond the halachic issues that mandate a
second day of Rosh Hashanah, the Al-mighty is saying
to us, "I am giving you more time. More time to
consider your life, more time to consider your actions,
more time to ask for forgiveness, more time to mend
your relationship with others and with G-d, more time
to spend in prayer at the synagogue, more time to cast
your sins into the sea, more time to celebrate the miracle
of creation, more time to rejoice with your family."
Can
there be any greater gift than the gift of time? What
a wonderful gift G-d has so graciously given us for
this New Year.
May
this be a year of health and peace for all of humankind,
and may we have time to enjoy G-d's manifold blessings.
May
you be blessed.
Rosh
Hashanah 5767 begins on Friday evening, September 22nd
and continues through Sunday evening, September 24,
2006.
