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Daily Chizuk #1678
Holidays / Yamim Tovim
Awakening through the Shofar: Instilling Holy Trembling
Many communities have the minhag to blow the shofar every day in Elul. The purpose is to awaken us, to instill fear and trembling as the awesome day of Rosh HaShanah approaches. There is also the minhag to read the mizmor L'David Hashem Ori v'yishi. And in that mizmor, David HaMelech says:
"מִמִּי אִירָא… אִם־תַּחֲנֶה עָלַי מַחֲנֶה לֹא־יִירָא לִבִּי".
"Whom shall I fear? … Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear" (Tehillim 27:1–3).
At first glance, this seems like a contradiction. On one hand, we sound the shofar to create fear. On the other hand, we recite words of Tehillim telling us there is nothing to fear.
So too in Elul. First we blow the shofar — to arouse fear and awareness that Rosh HaShanah is coming. Then, after we are inspired to draw near to HaShem and commit to doing His will, we can place genuine bitachon in Him. At that stage, there is truly nothing to fear, for HaShem Himself is our salvation.
"מִמִּי אִירָא… אִם־תַּחֲנֶה עָלַי מַחֲנֶה לֹא־יִירָא לִבִּי".
"Whom shall I fear? … Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear" (Tehillim 27:1–3).
At first glance, this seems like a contradiction. On one hand, we sound the shofar to create fear. On the other hand, we recite words of Tehillim telling us there is nothing to fear.
So too in Elul. First we blow the shofar — to arouse fear and awareness that Rosh HaShanah is coming. Then, after we are inspired to draw near to HaShem and commit to doing His will, we can place genuine bitachon in Him. At that stage, there is truly nothing to fear, for HaShem Himself is our salvation.
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