Rosh Hashanah: Miraculous Conceptions, Consequential Births

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is an annual two day celebration best known for the blowing of the shofar, which proclaims the supreme role of God in human affairs. Rosh Hashanah recognizes God as the Giver of Life on this anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve. Rosh Hashanah begins on the first day of the month of Tishrei of the Jewish calendar. Tonight we usher in year 5787 from creation.

A Long Awaited Son is Born

We have two Torah readings on Rosh Hashanah Day 1, Bereshit (Genesis) 21:1-34 and Bamidbar (Numbers) 29:1-6. The Genesis reading opens with the miraculous birth of Isaac when Sarah is 90 years old and Abraham is 100 years old. This birth fulfills God's promise to the barren couple that they will have a son who will be the progenitor of the Jewish nation.

At Sarah's urging about 15 years earlier, Hagar, her maid, has given birth to Abraham's son, Ishmael. After Isaac's birth, relationships become strained. To preserve domestic tranquillity and protect Isaac from negative influences, Hagar and Ishmael must leave the home. Ishmael becomes the progenitor of the Arab nation.

Water wells are essential elements in the lives of these desert dwelling people. A dispute between Abraham and Abimelech over a well in Beersheba is resolved with a covenant of peace between the two men. This peace treaty provides safe haven in Canaan for Abraham to grow his family, eventually becoming a life affirming, morally centered nation that revolutionizes humankind through example.

The Numbers reading establishes the holy day of Rosh Hashanah on the Jewish calendar.

Samuel's Life of Service

The Haftarah reading on Day 1 of Rosh Hashanah is Shmuel (Samuel) I 1:1 - 2:10. Hannah, a sorrowful, barren woman, prays to God for a child. Eli, a priest, overhears her plea and blesses her with a promise of a baby. Hannah bears a miracle son the next year.

In gratitude to God, Hannah entrusts Samuel to Eli's care and to the service of God. During his lifetime of service, Samuel excels as a leader, prophet, advisor, priest, and judge. Among many remarkable accomplishments, Samuel rescues David from King Saul's assassination order, preserving the messianic lineage.

Child Sacrifice Repudiated

On Day 2 of Rosh Hashanah, we read Bereshit (Genesis) 22:1-24 and repeat Bamidbar (Numbers) 29:1-6. This reading includes the story of the Binding of Isaac, known as the Akedah in Hebrew.

Isaac is a young man when God tests Abraham's spiritual mettle by ordering him to sacrifice his precious son. After 100 years of experiencing God's blessings, Abraham trusts the Almighty completely and so he builds an altar on Mt Moriah. An angel intervenes, staying the deed just as Abraham raises the knife. A ram provides a substitute sacrifice.

The Akidah serves only as a test of Abraham's allegiance to the Almighty will. God detests child sacrifice and later codifies the prohibition of it in Torah.  Abraham's unconditional surrender to God's will merits his place as the patriarch of a holy nation through which all the nations of the world will be blessed. 

We learn of Rebecca, Isaac's future wife, in this reading. She is one of many siblings born to Nahor, Abraham's brother and his wife, Milcah. Isaac and Rebecca will bear Jacob, who will produce 12 sons, the last being Benjamin, second son of the love of his life, Rachel. 

Rachel's Lamentations

The Haftarah reading on Day 2 of Rosh Hashanah is Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) 31:1-19. Jeremiah warns against ongoing Baal worship and child sacrifice in Israel. He declares this egregious offense against God will precipitate the destruction of Jerusalem. Administrative officials convince King Zedekiah to silence Jeremiah by throwing him in prison. The prophet survives death defying conditions until released by the Babylonians after they capture the city.

Jeremiah not only condemns Israel, he consoles her, too. He recalls Rachel, who dies 1,000 years earlier giving birth to Benjamin on the family's journey back to Canaan. Jacob buries Rachel in a tomb near Bethlehem. Jeremiah perceives Rachel crying for her people as they pass her tomb during the Babylonian exile. Jeremiah promises that God will hear her crying. He will redeem the people and return them to a holy state of being in the Land of Israel. 

Rachel is the namesake for our Tikvat Rachel Healing Program for Jewish women and men who suffer after abortion. We weep for our children lost in abortion and their children who will never be possible. We weep for the mothers and fathers separated from God's love and care after bering entrapped into abortion. We offer consolation and healing through a Teshuvah based program of personal healing and ongoing action.

New Year 5787

Rosh Hashanah begins a 10 day meditation and self examination period to prepare us for Yom Kippur., our annual day of atonement. The shofar blasts, in some places 100 blasts in all, rouse us from our spiritual slumber. Inspired once again to put God first in our lives, we examine how our thoughts and actions separate us from Him. We regret, we repent, and we resolve to make things right.

Happy New Year!

Cecily Routman

May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and good life upon us and upon all Israel. Amen.

Cecily Routman is the founder and president of the Jewish Pro-Life Foundation. She opposes abortion homicide in general and among Jews in particular and laments secular policy making in Israel that results in loss of Jewish life and delays the messianic redemption. Cecily envisions a Torah based holy Land of Israel and a world that respects the life of every human being from conception.

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