On the first day of the seventh month, _Tishri_ (October), is the
commemoration of the creation of the world. Then the cornet is blown to
announce to the people that a new year has begun its course, and to warn
them to examine strictly their conduct and make amends therein where
amends are needed.
Would not any person of sense, knowing that he must appear before a
Court of Judgment, prepare himself therefor? Either in a civil or a
criminal case would he not seek for counsel? How much more, then, is it
incumbent upon him to prepare for a meeting with the King of kings,
before whom all things are revealed. No counsel can help him in his
case; repentance, devotion, charity, these are the arguments which must
plead in his favor. Therefore, a person should search his actions and
repent his transgressions previous to the day of judgment. In the month
of _Elul_ (September) he should arouse himself to a consciousness of the
dread justice awaiting all mankind.
This is the season when the Lord pardoned the Israelites who had
worshiped the molten calf. He commanded Moses to reascend the mount for
a second tablet, after he had destroyed the first. Thus say the sages,
"The Lord said unto Moses in the month _Elul_, 'Go up unto me on the
mountain,' and Moses went up and received the second tablet at the end
of forty days. Before he ascended he caused the trumpet to be sounded
through the camp." Since that time it is customary to sound the
_shophar_ (cornet) in the synagogues, to give warning to the people that
the day of judgment, New Year, is rapidly approaching, and with it the
Day of Atonement. Therefore, propitiatory prayers are said twice every
day, morning and evening, from the second day of _Elul_ until the eve of
the Day of Atonement, which period comprises the last forty days which
Moses passed on Sinai, when God was reconciled to Israel and pardoned
their transgressions with the molten calf.
Rabbi Eleazer said, "Abraham and Jacob were born in _Tishri_, and in
_Tishri_ they died. On the first of _Tishri_ the universe was created,
and during the Passover was Isaac born. On the first of _Tishri_ (New
Year), Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah, three barren women, were visited. On
the first day of _Tishri_ our ancestors discontinued their rigorous
labor in Egypt. On the first of _Tishri_ Adam was created; from his
existence we count our years, that is the sixth day of the creation. On
that day, too, did he eat of the forbidden fruit, therefore is the
season appointed for one of penitence, for the Lord said to Adam, 'This
shall be for a sign in future generations; thy descendants shall be
judged upon these days, and they shall be appointed as days of pardon
and forgiveness.'"
Four times in the year the Lord pronounces His decrees.
First, New Year, the first of _Tishri_. Then the judgments of all human
beings for the coming year are ordained.
Second, the first day of Passover. Then the scarcity or fullness of the
crops is determined.
Third, Pentecost. Then the Lord blesses the fruit of the trees, or bids
them bear not in plenty.
Fourth, The Feast of Tabernacles. Then the Lord determines whether the
rain shall bless the earth in its due season or not.
Man is judged on New Year's and the decree is made final on the Day of
Atonement.
Rabbi Nathan has said that man is judged at all times.
Thus taught Rabbi Akiba. "Why does the law command the bringing of a
sheaf of barley on the Passover? Because the Passover is the season of
the harvest of the grain. The Lord says, 'Offer for me a sheaf of barley
on Passover, that I may bless the grain which is in the field.'
"Why does the Bible say, 'Bring two loaves of the new wheat on
Pentecost?' Because at Pentecost time the fruit ripens, and God says,
'Offer for me two loaves of the new wheat, in order that I may bless the
fruit which is on the trees.'
"Why were we commanded to bring a drink-offering of water into the
Temple on the Feast of Tabernacles? Because then is the season of rain,
and the Lord says, 'Bring the drink-offering of water to me, in order
that I may bless the rain of the year.'
"Why do they make the cornet which they blow of a ram's horn? In order
that the Lord may remember the ram which was sacrificed instead of
Isaac, and allow the merits of the patriarchs to weigh in favor of their
descendants, as it is written in the Decalogue, 'Showing mercy to
thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.'"
On New Year's day they recite in the synagogues the record of the
binding of Isaac for the same purpose. While God has mercy upon His
creatures He gives them a season for repentance, that they may not
perish in their wickedness, therefore as it is written in Lamentations
3:40, we should "search through and investigate our ways and return unto
the Lord."
During the year man is apt to grow callous as to his transgressions,
therefore the cornet is sounded to arouse him to the consciousness of
the time which is passing so rapidly away. "Rouse thee from thy sleep,"
it says to him; "the hour of thy visitation approaches." The Eternal
wishes not to destroy His children, merely to arouse them to repentance
and good resolves.
Three classes of people are arraigned for judgment: the righteous, the
wicked, and the indifferent. To the righteous the Lord awards a happy
life; the wicked He condemns, and to the indifferent ones He grants a
respite. From New Year's day until the Day of Atonement His judgment He
holds in abeyance; if they repent truly they are classed with the
righteous for a happy life, and if they remain untouched, they are
counted with the wicked.
Three sounds for the cornet are commanded in the Bible. A pure sound
(_T'kiah_), a sound of alarm or trembling (_T'ruah_), and, thirdly, a
pure sound again (_T'kiah_).
The first sound typifies man's first awakening to penitence; he must
search well his heart, desert his evil ways, and purify his thoughts, as
it is written, "Let the wicked forsake his ways and the man of
unrighteousness his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord."
The alarm sound typifies the sorrow which a repentant man feels for his
misconduct and his earnest determination to reform.
The last sound is the pure sound again, which typifies a sincere resolve
to keep the repentant heart incorrupt.