Rosh Hashana

Torah Readings & Haftaras

According to Tradition, Sara was "remembered" on Rosh HaShana, and she subsequently gave birth to Yitzchak, despite her advanced age of 90. On the first day of Rosh HaShana we read perek 21 of B'reishit, from Parshat Vayeira, about the birth and early years of Yitzchak, and about the Sara-Hagar-Yishmael episode. The last part of this 34-pasuk reading is about the treaty made between Avraham and Avimelech. 

Commentaries point out that it was in the merit of the prayers of Avraham on behalf of the people of Avimelech's household, that his (Avraham's) and Sara's prayers for themselves were also answered.
One strong Rosh HaShana message is the power of prayer.
Because of Shabbat, the reading is divided into seven Aliyot. 
Then the Maftir is called to the second Torah and the first 6 p'sukim of Bamidbar 29 (in Parshat Pinchas) are read. The reading is about the Musaf of Rosh HaShana and the mitzva of Shofar blowing.

The Haftara of the first day of Rosh HaShana echoes and reinforces the theme of the Power of Prayer, as well as giving us another example of the "barren matriarch" who conceived after praying, It is the story of Chana, mother of Shmuel HaNavi. The silent nature of the Amida is attributed to Chana. The reading is the first 38 p'sukim of the Book of Shmuel, 1:1-2:10.

Mincha...
When Rosh Hashana is Shabbat, Yom Kippur will be Monday and Sukkot will be Shabbat. That means that there is no Shabbat between Yom Kippur and Sukkot, which means that Hazinu is the Shabbat Shuva reading and the beginning of Haazinu is the reading for Shabbat afternoon. As always, 3 people are called to the Torah at Shabbat Mincha.

When there is Yom Tov on Motz'aei Shabbat, one has to be careful to eat Seuda Shlishit for Shabbat, on the one hand, and to still have an appetite for the Yom Tov meal at night, on the other hand. This takes a little planning, but both Kavod Shabbat and Kavod Yom Tov are at stake, so the effort is well-rewarded. 

Second Day...
In the first Sefer Torah, we continue reading from the previous day, 22 p'sukim for five people. Perek 22 is the portion of the Akeida. It is arguably the most dramatic and emotion-evoking portion of the whole Torah. Tradition tells us that the Akeida took place on Rosh HaShana. ZICHRONOT (remembrances) is one of the three major themes of Rosh Hashana, and the Akeida is the main element of ZICHRONOT. Not only is it the topic of the Torah reading, but it is the basic of the choice of Shofar, and it is oft repeated in davening. We stand before G-d on Yom HaDin and we proclaim that we are not only the biological descendants of Avraham and Yitzchak (and Yaakov), but the spiritual heirs as well. We are not just telling stories; we are inspired to emulate our forefathers and develop a total commitment to G-d and Torah. 

The Maftir is the same as the day before - the Musaf of Rosh HaShana.

The Haftara is 19 p'sukim from Yirmiyahu (31:2-20). Once again, we find one of the matriarchs who was without child for a long time. This time, Rachel Imeinu represents the people of Israel (more specifically, the tribes of the kingdom of Israel, under the flag of Efrayim, so to speak, who are in bad shape in their countries of Exile. The closing words of the Haftara contain G-d's promise of mercy.

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