Conception Of The Year
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Conception Of The Year Why is it that on Rosh
Hashana we are judged for the entire year?[1]
When a child is being
conceived, his entire genetic make-up is being put in place. After this point
he is locked into his physical genetic coding.[2]
Similarly, in a court case, it is easier to be exonerated during the case
rather than having the verdict changed afterwards. Rosh Hashana is the
conception of the year and as the Gemara states one’s sustenance is set from
Rosh Hashana.[3]
So, on Rosh Hashana we are judged for the entire year,[4]
since it is the point of conception. With this we can explain טוב אחרית דבר מראשיתו[5]- a good end is dependent
on its beginning. To what can this be compared?
To one who has a cut in his foot while another has a cut in his head. It is
obviously more severe in the head. This is why people are very careful with how
they behave on ראש השנה as it is the head.[6]
There was a child who once
caught a cold and died five days later. The people were in shock that a child
could die from a cold in five days. R’ Chaim Shmulevitz, however, had a
different take as he said that the child didn’t catch a cold five days ago
rather he caught the cold on Rosh Hashana.[7]
The Pasuk says מרשית השנה ועד אחרית שנה; from the beginning of the year until year’s end.[8]
מרשית is composed of the same letters as מתשרי, meaning from Rosh Hashana which is the beginning of the year,
as everything until אחרית שנה is from
there. [1] The Mishna (Rosh Hashana 16a) states כל באי עולם
עוברין לפניו כבני מרון; on Rosh Hashana all who come to the world pass
before Him like בני מרון. This is compared to מעשר בהמה
(Rosh Hashana 18a, Rashi s.v. בראש השנה). Just as with מעשר בהמה the
animal is marked but he walks around unaware so too people on Rosh Hashana are
marked for life, death etc. yet they walk about freely and happily unaware of
what the future holds. [2] It is interesting that
the word תחלה;
beginning, is rooted in חל- when things take effect. [3] Beitza 16a [4] The Mishna Brura (591:14) says we can be judged for
many years from one Rosh Hashana. [5] Koheles 7:8 [6] We need to make the beginning strong since it affects
the future. We see this by Yaakov- whose children were all Tzadikim- where it
says כחי וראשית
עוני; my
strength and initial vigor (Breishis 49:3). Similarly, a baby learns the Torah
in the mothers stomach (Nida 30b)- in order to make the beginning strong
(Siduro Shel Shabbos, Devarim Achadim). [7] In this way we can translateתשורי מראש
אמנה (Shir Hashirim 4:8)- believe that everything
is sourced from the beginning of Tishrei (Rosh Hashana). [8] Devarim 11:12 [9] This idea that when an
occurrence happens during the year it is from Rosh Hashana is hinted to in תקעו בחדש שופר
בכסה-
which refers to Rosh Hashana (Beitza 16a)- as בכסה is related to כסוי; to
cover because everything is contained within Rosh Hashana.
