24 Sep THE UNIQUENESS OF ROSH HASHANA

The second Mishna
of tractate Rosh
Hashana teaches “On
Rosh Hashana all
who enter the world
pass before Him (for
judgment) like Bnei
Maron” (sheep being
counted). However,
the Gemara there quotes an opinion that “Man
is judged daily” [Rosh Hashana 16a]. At first
glance, these two opinions seem to conflict
with one another. Apparently, Judgment either
occurs once a year or it occurs on a daily basis.
The two opinions seem to be mutually
exclusive.
Rav Eizele Charif tries to reconcile these
statements by introducing the concept that that
in reality, there are two types of judgment.
When a person starts his year, it has been
determined that he has certain abilities, a
certain status, and certain physical and
financial attributes. A status quo for the coming
year is determined on Rosh HaShana.
However, this “baseline” can be altered during
the year — for better or for worse — based on
the actions of the individual during the year.
However, when we approach the judgment of
the New Year, there is no status quo. We do not
approach the Almighty with a presumption of

what has been (chazaka d’m’ikara). We do not
walk into Judgment on Rosh HaShana with the
idea “I have been alive until now, I will remain
alive this coming year; I have been healthy
and wealthy until now, so it will all continue
indefinitely during the coming year”. That is
not a correct attitude on Rosh HaShana.
During the year, our allotment and budget has
already been determined. We have been
budgeted a certain amount of dollars, and
health, and success in our endeavors and we
proceed to spend against that pre-determined
budget, even though that budget can be raised
or lowered within the parameters of “Man is
judged daily”. However, when Rosh
HaShana’s judgment for the New Year arrives,
there is nothing that is a given.
Rav Pam once commented on the Penitential
prayer that we say in Selichos prior to and
during the Yomim Noraim, “Like paupers and
beggars do we come before You, knocking on
Your door.” The simple interpretation is that
we are paupers because we do not have
sufficient good deeds to our credit. However,
Rav Pam says that it is to be interpreted
literally — when we appear before the
Almighty on Rosh HaShana we are penniless.
What does it mean we are penniless? I have
money in the bank, I have a portfolio, I have a
house, and I have assets! What does it mean,

“I’m a pauper”?
Rav Pam explains that it means that nothing is
a given. We start out afresh. There are not any
“chazakas”. “You were healthy until now, but
today there is a fresh judgment regarding what
is going to happen now and for the coming
year.” “You had success until now. Today
there is a fresh Judgment.”
The reason we do not tremble before the Yom
HaDin is because it is very hard for us to
actually believe this idea. If a person is 50
years old, he figures that he has been through
all this previously and things always seem to
remain fairly stable. He assumes “Look, I just
went for a physical and the doctor says I am
doing quite well.” “I have been in my business
or profession for 30 years; some years I do a
little better and some years a little worse, but I
have always had a steady income. What do
you mean that I might not have parnasa this
coming year?” We tend to assume that we are
going into the Day of Judgment with a strong
status quo in our favor. That is not true. It is
very difficult for us to internalize this concept
but the status quo is not guaranteed.
If we think about things we have seen and
heard about during the past year, it will
become all too clear how life can change in a
minute. People are swept away by natural

tragedies, by sudden changes of fortune, by
unexpected diagnoses, and by unforeseen
political changes. These sudden changes in
one’s health or fortune or personal status are
the most shocking things that can happen to a
person. Yesterday, everything was wonderful.
Overnight, things can change in such a way
that a person is no longer able to function.
However, such events do occur. That is the
Day of Judgment of Rosh Hashana. There are
no presumptions of status quo. We cannot be
lulled into this false sense of security that we
have been healthy, wealthy, and wise until
now, presumably it will continue like that as
well.
On Rosh Hashana, all bets are off. Like
paupers and penniless people do we knock on
Your doors. This is the reality. This is why the
Din of Rosh Hashana is so awesome and scary.