Shabbat Parashat Nitzavim 5785

Moreshet Shaul: Fortunate is the King Who Is Thus Praised in His House

[This drasha was from the first Rosh Hashana of the State of Israel]

The gemara says: “When Israel would enter shuls and study halls and respond ‘Let His great name be blessed,’ Hashem would nod his head and say: ‘Fortunate is the King who is thus praised in His house. Why would the Father want to exile His sons? Woe to the sons who were exiled from their Father’s table’” (Berachot 3a).   

During the 2,000 years of exile, when we would gather during Rosh Hashana to coronate the King of the World with prayer and the blowing of the shofar, Hashem would nod His head.

Yes, we were scattered among the nations, disgraced and scorned, and dependent on their mercy and whims. In fact, when we gathered in shuls with the fear of the kingdoms upon us, although we should have blown the shofar in Shacharit, we did so in Musaf because of this fear. What point was there to coronate the King when we ourselves were slaves to slaves, who could not fend for ourselves? “Why would the Father want to exile His sons?” When we would say in the prayers, “About the nations it will be said [regarding their judgment]…,” the intention was for all of the nations of the world except the nation of the King of kings. What type of a coronation was this?

Now we have been blessed to return to “the house of the King.” We have been blessed to be free of the status of slaves to slaves. When we say in Rosh Hashana prayers, the King, it has much more meaning. Now when we say we are coronating Hashem, it can mean by establishing a kingdom [of our own] where divine judgment is employed. We could have a kingdom that would be an example to the world with its laws and court system. It could be a kingdom in which all who see it would be forced to admit, “What a wise and great nation! How lofty is the divine strength that caused this kingdom to rise!”

To a certain extent we can now fulfill the idea of “Fortunate is the King who is thus praised in His house.” This was definitely the intention of the Divine Providence whose mercy brought us to this point. The blowing of the shofar now has a new meaning.

However, at these holy moments, a feeling arises in the heart – how great this moment could be if only the Satan had not intervened and strove to wedge a barrier between us and our Father in the Heavens. This is the Satan that has confused the hearts of so many of our dear Jewish brothers, who are not gathering in shuls, whose eyes have not yet been opened, and whose ears are still sealed from hearing and seeing the Hand of Hashem and His strong voice. It is so hurtful to feel that the Kingdom of Israel that is being established is still not the kingdom of Hashem – the laws of Hashem and His teachings are still not the laws of our state.

Our prayer and request of the G-d of the Heaven is to “tear the Satan.” Tear him and confuse him as he dances in a manner that creates stupidity and silliness. Tear the Satan that causes fraternal strife. Tear the Satan of jealousy and lack of generosity of the spirit. Tear the Satan of love of bribery and money.

“Fill our eyes with light” – may the light of the Torah penetrate the darkened hearts. May it bring light to tens of thousands of members of Your Nation of Israel, who were caught without knowledge of Your Great Name.

May the blowing of the shofar arouse You to blow Your great shofar, which will beckon those who are lost and the scattered Jews who have forgotten who they are and who You are.  

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