ALL OUR NEEDS ARE INCLUDEDALL OUR NEEDS ARE INCLUDED
As I look through the Rosh Hashanah machzor I do not find any place to ask for my needs and for those who are dear to me. Is there no place to ask for our needs. Is there not a Jewish expression “bet ois a gut yur”, “Ask Hashem for a good year”?
The theme of Rosh Hashanah is renewing the Kingdom of HaShem. I like to use the analogy of the orchestra and the conductor to describe the relationship of HaShem and His people. Every person plays their unique instrument with their unique set of notes. Naturally, everyone must follow the basic rules governing music and the protocol of the symphony, nevertheless, everyone does what they do best in the way that they do it. The conductor, who understands the unique strengths and the unique instrument of each musician, directs every musician giving each one his own cue. When every musician plays his best and everyone follows the conductor, the result will be the most fabulous symphony. The resulting symphony transcends far beyond what any single musician could accomplish – it is a magnificent masterpiece representing much more than the sum total of all their talents.
Just as the organs of the body when they work in sync you have a living human being which is much more than the sum total of all organs, so too, the resulting symphony has a life of its own which is generated by every musician under the direction of the conductor.
The mission of the world is that HaShem’s Name be recognized throughout the world. That mission cannot be realized without my participation and without the participation of every other member of the Jewish people. Therefore, when we daven for that great goal, we are asking that every player in that scheme should have what they need to achieve that goal. This means their livelihood, their health, their spouse and all the other needs that we all have. Hence, the place to ask for our needs is when we ask Him that His mission should be accomplished. On every page of the machzor we daven that the world achieve its mission and it is there where our needs and the needs of our dear ones are addressed.
Our needs, however, are only included with those prayers when we participate in the orchestra. It is therefore critical on Rosh Hashanah that we all subscribe to play our instruments to the best of our abilities and to follow the cues we get from the conductor. Then, we are the members of that orchestra and are included in all those prayers.
As we go through the Rosh Hashanah service and draw ourselves into the circle of those who participate in realizing HaShem’s vision for the world, we achieve a tremendous sense of unity parallel to the unity of the organs of a body. We are all driving for the common goal and together we achieve life for the world itself.
May HaShem grant us the merit that this year we will see and we will participate in the great day for which we await to see the final realization of HaShem’s mission.
Have a wonderful Shabbos and a happy sweet New Year.
Paysach Diskind