1) When entering the Shul on the eve of Rosh Hashanah (or when getting ready to daven, for women, or anyone else davening at home)
one should enter with a feeling of fear, trepidation and trembling
[before Hashem] as the time has arrived for each of us to take the
defendant’s seat to be judged by the supreme judge (Hashem).
2)
It is extremely important to daven with Kavanah (concentration;
understanding and meaning the words) on Rosh Hashanah. (Chayei Adam)
Halachos for first day of Rosh Hashanah
1)
Althogh the entire year the Shemona Esrei is recited quietly as not to
disturb the concentration of people standing near you, on Rosh Hashanah
[and Yom Kippur] many have the Minhag to recite it louder than usual,
as this brings them to be able to concentrate better.
Being
that everyone has a Machzor on these days, we arent concerned tha
reciting Shemona Esrei will cause the people near you to lose
concentration. However, even if reciting it louder than usual, it
should still not be recited too loud, and if one can concentrate fully
even when davening low, as is done the whole year, that is still ideal.( Mishna Berura, Shel"ah and others)
2) Should one cry and/or shed tears while davening on Rosh Hashanah [and Yom Kippur]?
The
Arizal says that one who does not cry on these days can be sure that
his/her Neshama isn’t worthy and/or complete, and he/she should exert
extra effort to atone for their sins, which are preventing the Neshama
from reaching its potential. (Brought in Mateh
Ephraim. The Chida maintains that even if one isn’t really crying,
he/she should still force himself to daven in a crying voice.)
The Gaon of Vilna was of the opinion
that one shouldn’t cry on Rosh Hashanah, as we must be confident that
we will come out of the judgment exonerated based on the Pesukim in
Nechemia (Perek 8, Pesukim 9-11) [which were said to the Jews on Rosh Hashanah of that year] "V’Al Tivku...Ki Kadosh HaYom...V’Al TisAtzvu- Do not cry...for today is a holy day... and do not be disheartened"
Does the Gaon of Vilna contradict the Arizal? The answer is no, and the explanation is as follows:
There
are two kinds of crying. If one forces himself to cry from fear of a
bad judgment even the Arizal would agree to the Gr"a that it is not in
the spirit of Rosh Hashanah, and shouldn’t be done. However, if one’s
soul causes them to cry involuntarily from within him/herself [during the prayers], even
according to the Gaon of Vilna, he will agree to the Arizal that there
is no problem at all, with such an "inspired" prayer and it is actually
commendable. (See Shu"t Teshuvos V’Hanhogos from Rav Moshe
Sternbuch Shlita Vol. 2 Siman 268 for a more lengthy elucidation of the
above explanation)
Halachos for Second day of Rosh Hashanah
1) After Maariv on the first night of Rosh Hashana it is customary to bless everyone you meet with a special greeting of "L’Shana Tova Techasev [V’Techasem] [L’Alter] U’Lchaim Tovim]-To a good year may you be written and signed immediately for a year of good life". (opinion of the Magen Avraham)
According to some Poskim, the word "V’Techasem-and signed" is omitted, as the final signing of the decree happens on Yom Kippur and not on Rosh Hashanah. (Opinion of the Gaon of Vilna, the Ram"a M’Panu and the Levush) (Even
though Tzadikim Gemurim and Reshaim Gemurim are signed on Rosh Hashana,
that is only for their heavenly reward, but for "life" on this world,
even Tzadikim are only signed on Yom Kippur, according to the Gaon of
Vilna’s explanation)
A third opinion is that it is OK to
say V’Techasem, as it is referring to the Chasima- the final ruling-
which will take place on Yom Kippur. However, according to this
opinion, the word "L’Alter- immediately" should be omitted. (Opinion of the Kaf HaChaim, Mateh Ephraim, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch)
2) When someone extends the above blessing to you, it is customary to respond with "Gam Atem- you too", V’Chain L’Mar- So too [should the blessing go] for you", or some other variation of such a response.
On the second night of Rosh Hashana according to the Taz and
other Poskim the same greeting as the first night is said. However
according to the Elya Rabbah, Pri Megadim, Gr"a and other Poskim, it is
not recited. The prevelant Minhag is like the latter opinion.
The blessing of "Gmar Chasima Tova- A good final judgement" is customarily said instead of "Kesiva V’Chasima Tova" when greeting people anytime from the second day of Rosh Hashana until Hoshana Rabbah.
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
