The ten days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur is a time that is set aside for t’shuvah – a time when we are told to “seek Hashem when He can be found.” Many have asked: Why do these days not come before Rosh HaShanah when we stand in judgment before G-d? Wouldn’t it make sense to do t’shuvah first and then be judged? Additionally, Rosh HaShanah itself actually marks the beginning of the Ten Days of Repentance. Yet, there is no specific mention of t’shuvah in any of its unique t’filos or rituals.
The answer is that Rosh HaShanah is a time for t’shuvah – but it’s of a different sort.
Hashem said: Recite before Me on Rosh HaShanah [the verses of] Malchiyus (Kingship)… so that you will make Me King over you.
On Rosh HaShanah, Hashem implores us to Make Him King. But He asks that we do this exactly as we are at the moment, with all of our flaws, confusions, anxieties, anger, dependencies, and desires.
Our goal is to be in this very place of imperfection, and from here declare that there is a Ribbono Shel Olam Who is directing the whole world and every minute detail of our lives, and there is a purpose to every experience that we have – positive and negative, internal and external.
With the blowing of the shofar, we connect to a wordless cry, a deep inner yearning to break free from that which holds us down and distracts us from that which we know to be true. We are instantly reunited with a surging desire to return to our Source and to reveal the intense, pure Light that shines within us.
At that very moment, we personally restore the King of Kings to His Throne at a time when so many do not know Him.
In the process, we are uplifted to unimaginable heights, and Hashem Himself dresses us in the most precious and splendid garments.
In this high position, all of our flaws cease to exist. At this moment, we are as we are meant to be.
After Rosh HaShanah, all of our yearnings on Rosh HaShanah create a tiny impression, and from that tiny impression, Hashem makes a wide opening so that the light of t’shuvah can flow in from Above. It is this Divine Light that strengthens and guides us to t’shuvah over the coming days.
The Ten Days of Repentance are days of introspection and work. Our goal is to get closer to reaching the heights of Rosh HaShanah and merit a good and sweet new year ahead.
Material was previously published on www.ShiratMiriam.com .
List of People Who Need a R’fuah Sh’leimah (a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Boris Baruch ben Frecha Frida
Alter Shmuel ben Chavah Leah
Chaim Avraham ben Shifrah Zisel
Yehudah Yudel ben Miriam Gittel
Chaim Yitzchak ben Feiga Hinda
Yitzchak Chaim ben Altoon Aura
Yosef Yitzchak ben Gittel
Eliezer ben Roma
Yosef Ezriel ben Chayah Michal
Aharon ben Feiga
Menachem Mendel ben Gitta Perel
Moshe ben Rachel
Yitzchak Nissim ben Luna
David ben Zina Priyev
Yosef ben Zackie
Yehoshua ben Miriam
Asher ben Rima
Tinok ben Chanah
Yechiel Nasan ben Sarah
Chaim Shmuel ben Leah
Shlomo Chaim ben Liza
Meir Moshe ben Ilanah
David Yehudah ben Maya Mazal
Avraham Refael ben Esther
Yisrael Meir ben Daphne Bruriah
Rafael ben Zilpah
Eitan Moshe ben Tal
Moshe ben Shoshanah
Gavriel ben Simi
Barel ben Nitzah
Miriam bas Orah
Esther Pesel bas Beila Chayah
Minna Rivkah bas Chanah Frahdl
Tovah Yocheved bas Esther Bukas
Ruchamah Perel Malkah Leah bas Chanah Serel
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Leah bas Malkah
Avigayil bas Sarah
Ronit bas Olga
Perel bas Nechamah
Tehilah Hadassah bas Elanah
Berta Duchtar bas Rivkah
Avivah bas Yehudis
Chanah Chayah bas Rivkah Breina
Rivkah Esther bas Nina Naomi
Miriam bas Esther
Casey Naomi bas Larisa
Shaindel Frana bas Gittel
Mahnaz Ilanit bas Nosrat
Yaffah bas Nava Natali
Pnir bas Sarah
Alana bas Esther
Hadassah Liana bas Chavah Brachah
Shulamis bas Esther
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.