Rosh Hashanah - Saturday/Day #1

Rosh Hashanah Week, Saturday Day #1

Torah Reading: Genesis 21:1-34

Mafter: Numbers 29:1-6

Haftarah: 1 Samuel 1:1-20

Genesis 21:1-34

21:1 Hashem visited Sarah as he had said, and Hashem did to Sarah as He had spoken. 2 Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which Hashem had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. 4 Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, when he was eight days old, as Hashem had commanded him. 5 Abraham was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him. 6 Sarah said, “Hashem has made me laugh. Everyone who hears will laugh with me.” 7 She said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.”

8 The child grew and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 9 Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. 10 Therefore, she said to Abraham, “Cast out this servant and her son! For the son of this servant will not be heir with my son, Isaac.”

11 The thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight on account of his son. 12 Hashem said to Abraham, “Don’t let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your servant. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For your offspring will be named through Isaac. 13 I will also make a nation of the son of the servant, because he is your child.” 14 Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a container of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. 15 The water in the container was spent, and she put the child under one of the shrubs. 16 She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, “Don’t let me see the death of the child.” She sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice, and wept. 17 Hashem heard the voice of the boy.

The angel of Hashem called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. For Hashem has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him with your hand. For I will make him a great nation.”

19 Hashem opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the container with water, and gave the boy a drink.

20 Hashem was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the wilderness, and as he grew up, he became an archer. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother got a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.

22 At that time, Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his army spoke to Abraham, saying, “Hashem is with you in all that you do. 23 Now, therefore, swear to me here by Hashem that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you have lived as a foreigner.”

24 Abraham said, “I will swear.” 25 Abraham complained to Abimelech because of a water well, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away. 26 Abimelech said, “I don’t know who has done this thing. You didn’t tell me, and I didn’t hear of it until today.”

27 Abraham took sheep and cattle, and gave them to Abimelech. Those two made a covenant. 28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. 29 Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs, which you have set by themselves, mean?”

30 He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well.” 31 Therefore, he called that place Beersheba, because they both swore an oath there. 32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Abimelech rose up with Phicol, the captain of his army, and they returned into the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of Hashem, the Everlasting God. 34 Abraham lived as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines for many days.

Mafter: Numbers 29:1-6

29:1 “‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no regular work. It is a day of blowing of trumpets to you. 2 You shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to Hashem: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defect; 3 and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three tenths for the bull, two tenths for the ram, 4 and one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs; 5 and one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you; 6 in addition to the burnt offering of the new moon with its meal offering, and the continual burnt offering with its meal offering, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Hashem.

Haftarah: 1 Samuel 1:1-20

1:1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Hashem of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Hashem, were there. 4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave portions to Peninnah, his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters; 5 but he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved Hannah, but Hashem had shut up her womb. 6 Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her, because Hashem had shut up her womb. 7 So year by year, when she went up to Hashem’s house, her rival provoked her. Therefore, she wept and didn’t eat. 8 Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why don’t you eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

9 So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of Hashem’s temple. 10 She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Hashem, weeping bitterly. 11 She vowed a vow, and said, “Hashem of Armies, if you will indeed look at the affliction of your servant and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a boy, then I will give him to Hahsem all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head.”

12 As she continued praying before Hashem, Eli saw her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore, Eli thought she was drunk. 

14 Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”

15 Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have not been drinking wine or strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Hashem. 16 Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation.”

17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; and may the Elohim of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.”

18 She said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her facial expression wasn’t sad anymore.

19 They rose up in the morning early and worshiped Hashem, then returned and came to their house to Ramah. Then Elkanah knew Hannah, his wife, and Hashem remembered her.

20 When the time had come, Hannah conceived and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of Hashem.”

Today’s Meditation:

Two very special women, Sarah and Hannah, whom Hashem remembers and allows them to conceive. Truly a miracle for each of them and a reminder that Hashem hears our prayers, and is an Elohim of hope and love.

On Rosh Hashanah, it is a day of remembrance. We remember creation and anticipate Hashem’s judgment for the actions of our own lives. It is a time of introspection, prayer, and repentance. The shofar sounds to remind us of repentance. We celebrate the coming year by eating apples and honey. We “tashlich” and throw bread crumbs into nearby water to remind us of our sins. And if possible, we attend synagogue services.

Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the 10 days of awe and repentance. It leads to Yom Kippur. It is a very special time of spiritual reflection on the deeds of our past year, and the anticipation of a much better year to come.

Week of Rosah Hashanah - Friday

Genesis 22:15-24, 1 Samuel 1:2-10, Psalm 138:1-8

Genesis 22:15-24

15 Hashem’s angel called to Abraham a second time out of the sky, 16 and said, “‘I have sworn by Myself,’ says Hashem, ‘because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your offspring greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gate of his enemies. 18 All the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring, because you have obeyed My voice.’”

19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba. Abraham lived at Beersheba.

20 After these things, Abraham was told, “Behold, Milcah, she also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23 Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.

1 Samuel 1:2-10

2 He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Hashem of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Hashem, were there. 

4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters; 5 but he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved Hannah, but Hashem had shut up her womb. 6 Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her, because Hashem had shut up her womb. 

7 So year by year, when she went up to Hashem’s house, her rival provoked her. Therefore, she wept and didn’t eat. 

8 Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why don’t you eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

9 So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of Hashem’s temple. 10 She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Hashem, weeping bitterly.

Psalm 138:1-8

I will give You thanks with my whole heart.
    Before the gods, I will sing praises to You.

2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple,
    and give thanks to Your Name for Your loving kindness and for Your truth;
    for You have exalted Your Name and Your Word above all.

3 In the day that I called,You answered me.
    You encouraged me with strength in my soul.

4 All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, Hashem,
    for they have heard the words of Your mouth.

5 Yes, they will sing of the ways of Hashem,
    for Hashem’s glory is great!

6 For though Hashem is high, yet He looks after the lowly;
    but He knows the proud from afar.

7 Though I walk in the middle of trouble, You will revive me.
    You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies.
    Your right hand will save me.

8 Hashem will fulfill that which concerns me.
    Your loving kindness, Hashem, endures forever.
    Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.

Rosh Hashanah - Thursday

Genesis 22:9-14, Joel 1:1-2:11, Psalm 137:1-9

Genesis 22:9-14

9 They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood. 10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.

11 Hashem’s angel called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”

He said, “Here I am.”

12 He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear Elohim, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

13 Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 

14 Abraham called the name of that place “Hashem Will Provide”. As it is said to this day, “On Hashem’s mountain, it will be provided.”

Joel 1:1-2:11

Hashem’s word that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel.

2 Hear this, you elders,
    and listen, all you inhabitants of the land!
Has this ever happened in your days,
    or in the days of your fathers?

3 Tell your children about it,
    and have your children tell their children,
    and their children, another generation.

4 What the swarming locust has left, the great locust has eaten.
    What the great locust has left, the grasshopper has eaten.
    What the grasshopper has left, the caterpillar has eaten.

5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep!
    Wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine,
    for it is cut off from your mouth.

6 For a nation has come up on My land, strong, and without number.
    His teeth are the teeth of a lion,
    and he has the fangs of a lioness.

7 He has laid my vine waste,
    and stripped My fig tree.
    He has stripped its bark and thrown it away.
    Its branches are made white.

8 Mourn like a virgin dressed in sackcloth
    for the husband of her youth!

9 The meal offering and the drink offering are cut off from Hashem’s house.
    The priests, Hashem’s ministers, mourn.

10 The field is laid waste.
    The land mourns, for the grain is destroyed,
    The new wine has dried up,
    and the oil languishes.

11 Be confounded, you farmers!
    Wail, you vineyard keepers,
    for the wheat and for the barley;
    for the harvest of the field has perished.

12The vine has dried up, and the fig tree withered—
    the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree,
    even all of the trees of the field are withered;
    for joy has withered away from the sons of men.

13 Put on sackcloth and mourn, you priests!
    Wail, you ministers of the altar.
Come, lie all night in sackcloth, you ministers of my Elohim,
    for the meal offering and the drink offering are withheld from your Elohim’s house.

14 Sanctify a fast.
    Call a solemn assembly.
    Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of Hashem your Elohim,
    and cry to Hashem.

15 Alas for the day!
    For the day of Hashemis at hand,
    and it will come as destruction from the Almighty.

16 Isn’t the food cut off before our eyes,
    joy and gladness from the house of our Elohim?

17 The seeds rot under their clods.
    The granaries are laid desolate.
    The barns are broken down, for the grain has withered.

18 How the animals groan!
    The herds of livestock are perplexed because they have no pasture.
    Yes, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

19 Hashem, I cry to you,
    for the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness,
    and the flame has burned all the trees of the field.

20 Yes, the animals of the field pant to You,
    for the water brooks have dried up,
    and the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion,
    and sound an alarm in My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
    for the day of Hashem comes,
    for it is close at hand:

2 A day of darkness and gloominess,
    a day of clouds and thick darkness.
As the dawn spreading on the mountains,
    a great and strong people;
    there has never been the like,
    neither will there be any more after them,
    even to the years of many generations.

3 A fire devours before them,
    and behind them, a flame burns.
The land is as the garden of Eden before them,
    and behind them, a desolate wilderness.
Yes, and no one has escaped them.

4 Their appearance is as the appearance of horses,
    and they run as horsemen.

5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains, they leap,
    like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble,
    like a strong people set in battle array.

6 At their presence the peoples are in anguish.
    All faces have grown pale.

7 They run like mighty men.
    They climb the wall like warriors.
    They each march in his line, and they don’t swerve off course.

8 One doesn’t jostle another.
    They each march in their own path.
    They burst through the defenses
    and don’t break ranks.

9 They rush on the city.
    They run on the wall.
    They climb up into the houses.
    They enter in at the windows like thieves.

10 The earth quakes before them.
    The heavens tremble.
    The sun and the moon are darkened,
    and the stars withdraw their shining.

11 Hashem thunders His voice before His army,
    for His forces are very great;
    for he is strong who obeys His command;
    for the day of Hashem is great and very awesome,
    and who can endure it?

Psalm 137:1-9

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down.
    Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

2 On the willows in that land,
    we hung up our harps.

3 For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs.
    Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy:
    “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4 How can we sing Hashem’s song in a foreign land?

5 If I forget you, Jerusalem,
    let my right hand forget its skill.

6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you,
    if I don’t prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.

7 Remember, Hashem, against the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem,
    who said, “Raze it!
    Raze it even to its foundation!”

8 Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction,
    he will be happy who repays you,
    as you have done to us.

9 Happy shall he be,
    who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.

Week of Rosh Hashanah - Wednesday

Genesis 22:1-8, Hosea 12:1-14:9, Psalm 136:13-26

Genesis 22:1-8

After these things, Hashem tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!”

He said, “Here I am.”

2 He said, “Now take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.”

3 Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which Hashem had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham, lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off. 5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there. We will worship, and come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together. 

7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father?”

He said, “Here I am, my son.”

He said, “Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

8 Abraham said, “Hashem will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they both went together.

Hosea 12:1-14:9

Ephraim feeds on wind,

    and chases the east wind.
    He continually multiplies lies and desolation.
    They make a covenant with Assyria,
    and oil is carried into Egypt.

2 Hashem also has a controversy with Judah,
    and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
    according to his deeds he will repay him.

3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel,
    and in his manhood he contended with Hashem.

4 Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed;
    he wept, and made supplication to him.
    He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us—

5 even Hashem, the Elohim of Armies.
    Hashem is His name of renown!

6 Therefore, turn to your Elohim.
    Keep kindness and justice,
    and wait continually for your Elohim.

7 A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand.
    He loves to defraud.

8 Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich.
    I have found myself wealth.
    In all my wealth they won’t find in me any iniquity that is sin.”

9 “But I am Hashem your Elohim from the land of Egypt.
    I will yet again make you dwell in tents,
    as in the days of the solemn feast.

10 I have also spoken to the prophets,
    and I have multiplied visions;
    and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.

11 If Gilead is wicked,
    surely they are worthless.
In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls.
    Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.

12 Jacob fled into the country of Aram.
    Israel served to get a wife.
    For a wife he tended flocks and herds.

13 By a prophet Hashem brought Israel up out of Egypt,
    and by a prophet he was preserved.

14 Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger.
    Therefore, his blood will be left on him,
    and his Hashem will repay his contempt.

13:1 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling.

    He exalted himself in Israel,
    but when he became guilty through Baal, he died.

2 Now they sin more and more,
    and have made themselves molten images of their silver,
    even idols according to their own understanding,
    all of them the work of the craftsmen.
    They say of them, ‘They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves.

3 Therefore, they will be like the morning mist,
    like the dew that passes away early,
    like the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor,
    and like the smoke out of the chimney.

 

4 “Yet I am Hashem your Elohim from the land of Egypt;
    and you shall acknowledge no god but Me,
    and besides Me there is no savior.

5 I knew you in the wilderness,
    in the land of great drought.

6 According to their pasture, so were they filled;
    they were filled, and their heart was exalted.
    Therefore, they have forgotten Me.

7 Therefore, I am like a lion to them.
    Like a leopard, I will lurk by the path.

8 I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs,
    and will tear the covering of their heart.
    There I will devour them like a lioness.
    The wild animal will tear them.

9 You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against Me,
    against your helper.

10 Where is your king now, that he may save you in all your cities?
    And your judges, of whom you said, ‘Give me a king and princes’?

11 I have given you a king in My anger,
    and have taken him away in My wrath.

12 The guilt of Ephraim is stored up.
    His sin is stored up.

13 The sorrows of a travailing woman will come on him.
    He is an unwise son,
    for when it is time, he doesn’t come to the opening of the womb.

14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol.
    I will redeem them from death!
    Death, where are your plagues?
    Sheol, where is your destruction?

“Compassion will be hidden from my eyes.

15 Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come,
    the breath of Hashen coming up from the wilderness;
    and his spring will become dry,
    and his fountain will be dried up.
    He will plunder the storehouse of treasure.

16 Samaria will bear her guilt,
    for she has rebelled against her Elohim.
    They will fall by the sword.
    Their infants will be dashed in pieces,
    and their pregnant women will be ripped open.”

14:1 Israel, return to Hashem your Elohim;
    for you have fallen because of your sin.

2 Take words with you, and return to Hashem.
    Tell him, “Forgive all our sins,
    and accept that which is good;
    so we offer bulls as we vowed of our lips.

3 Assyria can’t save us.
    We won’t ride on horses;
    neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Our gods!’
    for in you the fatherless finds mercy.”

 

4 “I will heal their waywardness.
    I will love them freely;
    for My anger is turned away from them.

5 I will be like the dew to Israel.
    He will blossom like the lily,
    and send down his roots like Lebanon.

6 His branches will spread,
    and his beauty will be like the olive tree,
    and his fragrance like Lebanon.

7 Men will dwell in his shade.
    They will revive like the grain,
    and blossom like the vine.
    Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 Ephraim, what have I to do anymore with idols?
    I answer, and will take care of him.
    I am like a green cypress tree;
    from Me your fruit is found.”

9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things?
    Who is prudent, that he may know them?
    For the ways of Hashem are right,
    and the righteous walk in them,
    but the rebellious stumble in them.

Psalm 136:13-26

13 To Him who divided the Red Sea apart,
    for His loving kindness endures forever;

14 and made Israel to pass through the middle of it,
    for His loving kindness endures forever;

15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
    for His loving kindness endures forever;

16 to Him who led his people through the wilderness,
    for His loving kindness endures forever;

17 to Him who struck great kings,
    for His loving kindness endures forever;

18 and killed mighty kings,
    for His loving kindness endures forever;

19 Sihon King of the Amorites,
    for His loving kindness endures forever;

20 Og King of Bashan,
    for His loving kindness endures forever;

21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
    for His loving kindness endures forever;

22 even a heritage to Israel his servant,
    for His loving kindness endures forever;

23 who remembered us in our low estate,
    for His loving kindness endures forever;

24 and has delivered us from our adversaries,
    for His loving kindness endures forever;

25 who gives food to every creature,
    for His loving kindness endures forever.

26 Oh, give thanks to the Elohim of heaven,
    for His loving kindness endures forever.