Fifth day of Creation through Rosh Hashana

 

The Fifth Day of Creation

The fifth day of creation introduced life onto the earth. The creatures of the sea and the birds of the sky represent the harmony of earth and water coexistence, although opposites, to create and sustain life.

היום החמישי: "וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹקים: יִשְׁרְצוּ הַמַּיִם שֶׁרֶץ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה, וְעוֹף יְעוֹפֵף עַל הָאָרֶץ עַל פְּנֵי רְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם. וַיִּבְרָא אֱלקים אֶת הַתַּנִּינִם הַגְּדֹלִים, וְאֵת כָּל נֶפֶשׁ הַחַיָּה הָרֹמֶשֶׂת אֲשֶׁר שָׁרְצוּ הַמַּיִם לְמִינֵהֶם, וְאֵת כָּל עוֹף כָּנָף לְמִינֵהוּ, וַיַּרְא אֱלֹקים כִּי טוֹב. כב וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם אֱלֹהִים לֵאמֹר: פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ וּמִלְאוּ אֶת הַמַּיִם בַּיַּמִּים, וְהָעוֹף יִרֶב בָּאָרֶץ. וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר יוֹם חֲמִישִׁי".
Today's Exercise

Apply the work we have been doing on the ego to the world outside of ourselves. We can all relate to the hustle and bustle of pre-holiday preparations and shopping. We have a choice to either "focus on our own needs (ego)" or open our eyes to the collective needs of all those around us.

By changing our focus from "what I must accomplish and what I am going through" to becoming aware of what others are experiencing and sympathizing with their needs, we can control the impulses of the ego. Only in a harmonious coalition of ego and giving, heaven and earth, can we hope for all life to grow and thrive.

Rosh Hashanah Reflection: Kinging Hashem

On Rosh Hashanah, Dr. Nosson Chayim Leff teaches that the Zohar instructs us to focus on "Kinging" H'shem as the Melech Haolam (King of the Universe). By shifting our focus from personal needs to H’shem, we transform our requests into secondary concerns, prioritizing H'shem's Oneness. This infuses us with our greater purpose: to serve our King and magnify His name, strengthening all of Am Yisroel. Rav Fanger says to use the first day to Daven for your Ruchniess/ Spiritual needs and the second day for Gashmius/Material.

Every step we take to draw closer to the Boreh Olam (Creator of the World), by internalizing His absolute Hashgacha (Divine Providence) and control over the world, uplifts and redefines our greatness and purpose on this earth. The simanim represent this faith as we use physical objects to connect to and elevate them with a bracha, blessing ourselves and the world's abundance simultaneously. When you want to set something into motion, you must take action. The Simanim are the actions we take to set the Bracha into motion. Every moment of Rosh Hashanah can be used to infuse our coming year with greatness.

Don't get caught up in minor setbacks. Now is the time to push forward, to keep moving, not to fall, but to rise and keep trying.

On the 6th day of creation, the animals, and Adam, and Chava were created, brought to life with H’shem's breath. Each of us possesses this breath within us, making us a part of Him. Connect to this G-dliness and let it empower you to reignite your desire to be better, greater, and more connected than the year before. All of Am Yisroel needs every one of us. Let that knowledge focus you to keep trying at every moment of Rosh Hashanah. Am Yisroel is counting on you; H'shem loves and believes in you and wants you to believe in yourself.

On the 7th day, "Yom Shabbat," we cease creating to allow our souls to connect to the world as it was meant to be. It's a gift of love from H’shem, where He would shower us with goodness and fulfill our hearts' desires without us having to work for them. One day, we will return to this perfection where we see H’shem's complete control over the world and our ability to enjoy every pleasure it offers. In our days, Shabbat is a taste of that gift where we stop creating and connect to the Master of the World.

May we be infused with greatness so that we make Hashem's name great in the world.

Shana Tova Umetukah.

Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash http://www.kabbalah.info/eng/content/view/frame/4516?/eng/content/view/full/4516&main