By Rabbi Yosef Shemtov:
Rosh Hashana is the Day of Judgment. Anything that happened this past year with our health, parnasa, job, and the pandemic was written on Rosh Hashana and sealed on Yom Kippur. And anything which will happen next year will be written and signed on these High Holidays. So what should we do and what preparation should we make to merit a good year with all the blessings?
In order to answer this question, we must answer another question: Why is the Day of Judgement on the first day of the year? Wouldn’t it be better for the Day of Judgment to be on the last day of the year? We all know final tests in schools are at the end of the term or at the end of the year. This way, if you pass you go to an upper grade when the new year begins. So why is judgment occurring on the first day of the year?
Gemara Rosh Hashana says the judgment of Rosh Hashana is only based on how we are then and what commitments and resolutions we have made for the New year. The Almighty doesn’t look at what we have done over the past year if we now decide to go in Hashem’s ways.
Therefore, judgment isn’t on the last day of the year because Hashem’s judgement isn’t similar to final exams in school. Schools want to know how much you have accomplished but the judgement of Rosh Hashana is about what you want to do in the new year.
After we make commitments on Rosh Hashana, we then go through 10 days of repentance with Yom Kippur at the end, when we ask forgiveness for our past transgressions. Hashem loves us so much. No matter what we have done in the past, Hashem would inscribe us for a good year if we decide to observe a Torah life. So let’s use the opportunity in the last few days of the year to contemplate and see what mitzvah we can do better.
On behalf of the Yachad rabbis, I wish you and your families a meaningful Rosh Hashana and a year full of blessings.