How do we know Rosh Hashana is the Day of Judgment? TB Rosh Hashana 8

One of the most famous and familiar prayers we recite on the High Holidays is Unehtaneh Tokef. This prayer envisions God sitting on His throne, opening the Book of Remembrance, and reviewing each individual’s life. In the second paragraph the Cantor sings “The Day of Judgment has arrived!” The congregation sings the refrain “On Rosh Hashana it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed.” Do you know though that the Torah never describes Rosh Hashana as the Day of Judgment (יום הדין)? In the Torah it is called Yom Truah, the Day of the shofar blast called truah.

On today’s daf TB Rosh Hashana 8 Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak explains why the first day of Tishre, Rosh Hashana, is the Day of Judgment. “Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: When the mishna says that the first of Tishrei is the New Year for years, it is with regard to judgment, as on that day God judges the world for the whole year, as it is written: “A land that the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year until the end of the year” (Deuteronomy 11:12); from the beginning of the year judgment is passed as to what will happen at the end of the year.

“The Gemara raises a question: From where is it known that the Day of Judgment is in Tishrei? As it is written: “Blow a shofar at the New Moon, at the covered time for our Festival day” (Psalms 81:4). Which is the Festival day״. On which the moon is covered, i.e., hidden? You must say that this is Rosh HaShana, which is the only Festival that occurs at the beginning of a month, when the moon cannot be seen. And it is written in the next verse: “For this is a statute for Israel, a judgment of the God of Jacob” (Psalms 81:5), implying that this is the Day of Judgment.” (Sefaria.org translation)

I appreciate that Judaism has time set aside for self-reflection and the opportunity to right wrongs. Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins writes about accountability in his book Moments of Transcendence: Inspirational Readings for Rosh Hashana.

The difference between during and after a mitzvah and an averah (sin-gg) is “aah” and “oy.”

          Mitzvah: While you’re doing it, you say, “Oy.” Later, on reflection, you say, “Ahh.”

          Averah: While you’re doing it, you say, “Ahh.” Later, on reflection, you say, “Oy.”

Be careful of the “seize the day” mentality of Robin Williams and the Dead Poets Society. It has some merit and truth, but only to a point. Sometimes it can lead you to danger. Sometimes one needs to seize tomorrow, not today, and think of the consequences of one’s actions.

We must all pay up someday. There are no free lunches. (Page 76)