Rabbi Roodyn

This chapter of תהילים takes us to the essence of the message  of Rosh Hashana and tekiyas shofar as it set in a world that is yet to be, the perfected world of the Messianic era , following the war of God and Magog[1] . This is the moment we have been waiting for, when all the nations of the world will come to seek out Hashem in Tzion[2].

Rav Hirsch says this chapter explains how the historic phenomenon of Klal Yisrael will inspire the nations of the world to pay homage to Hashem and how we have already started the process founding kingdom of Hashem amongst the nations.

This is our task of Rosh Hashana. To accept and proclaim Hashem  as King over ourselves and to yearn for the day when all of mankind will too. This is the essence of what Klal Yisrael’s mission is in the world to be וגוי קדוש ממלכת כהנים, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation[3]. This is the simple meaning  of the first line of  krias shema, where Rashi says[4] that Hashem is currently known as our G-d and will ultimately be known as the G-d of all humanity.

On Rosh Hashana, we affirm our relationship with this fundamental truth and set our sights on all of mankind to become aware of this.

[1]  רש”י ורד”ק

[2]  מלבי”ם

[3]  שמות י”ט:ו’

[4]  דברים ו’:ד’