This is our final lesson before Rosh Hashanah. We are quoting from Rav Yerucham Levovitz’s powerful words of hizuk.
He says that the definition of the word Emunah is not belief, as is commonly translated. Emunah really means holding on tight. He proves it from a pasuk in Yeshaya ( 22,23)
וּתְקַעְתִּיו יָתֵד בְּמָקוֹם נֶאֱמָן וְהָיָה לְכִסֵּא כָבוֹד לְבֵית אָבִיו
I stuck in a peg, in a place that is solid.
If you knock a nail into a wall, it’s firm and solid.
Emunah means to cleave to God in a solid way, and not let go, no matter what the situation.
It means not giving up. That is the measuring stick and definition of what separates a believer from a non-believer. A believer holds on tight, in all situations, regardless of what is going on, regardless of his challenges.
That is why, if he prays once and he has not been answered, he prays again.
As we say, קוה אל ה׳ חזק ויאמץ לבך וקוה אל ה׳
Pray to Hashem, strengthen your heart and pray again.
If a person prays once and doesn’t pray again, that is called letting go. That is disconnecting. We have to be solid. In Rav Yerucham’s words, “On Rosh Hashanah the main point is to be reliant. The main avodah/service of Rosh Hashanah is to constantly strengthen that connection.
All your thoughts, in all situations, should be focused on feeling more connected, and not give up or have weakness. That is the avodah of Rosh Hashanah.
Therefore, he says, we understand why there is no greater disease, there is nothing more dangerous, than ye’ush/ despair. Despair means letting go, and not holding on tightly. He says that even if a person has sins, and even though you are supposed to be afraid of your sins, even so, you still hold on. You still rely on Hashem and stay connected.
In his words, “Regardless of all the sins and transgressions that you know about, and are afraid of, you must still connect yourself.”
Regarding the man who returns from war because he is afraid of his sins, Rav Yerucham points out that it’s not the sins that are the problem, it is the fear of the sins. That man should have said,”Yes, I sinned, but I can still connect to Hashem.”
He invokes the prayers of Moshe Rabbenu, who prayed 515 times, until Hashem told him to stop. Imagine praying not 30, 40, or 100, but 500 times! Moshe Rabbenu did not stop.
If a person knows this fundamental, to never give up and keep pushing, that can keep him going through his most challenging times.
Rav Yerucham says, “We should be reliant and counting on God to the ultimate. We should not despair or leave go. We should be connected with conviction, that Hashem will take care of us.”
Every year on Rosh Hashanah, there are things that we prayed for, and asked for, that we did not receive. But just because Mashiach didn’t come last year, it doesn’t mean he can’t come this year.
When a person prays, he has to have a feeling of reliance that Hashem will definitely answer. And if you weren’t answered, and it feels like a slap across the face, don’t stop. Pray again. In his words, “It has to be that you will get there.” And even though you may have a lot of sins, and you had a big drop this year, “Do not let that push you away. Don’t let any fear enter your heart..”
That is the secret to success: to constantly be connected, not give up and keep on pushing. That is hizuk upon hizuk.
This attitude is the opposite of Amalek, the biggest Kofer/denier. Amalek came at Rafidim רפדים, which can translated as “they let go”
They weren’t holding on tight.
When someone is on a motorcycle, they have to hold on tight. They don’t want to fall off. That is the way that we have to be with Hashem. That is what Emunah means. That is the whole job of Rosh Hashanah, says Rav Yerucham. To hold on tight, and say the pesukim.
קוה אל ה׳ חזק ויאמץ לבך וקוה אל ה׳
Hope to Hashem, strengthen yourself and hope to Hashem
That’s the way to to go.
That is the attitude of Rosh Hashanah- feeling upbeat and positive, holding on strong, and being reliant on Hashem.
May we all be zoche to these feelings of strength, and may these words of the great Rav Yerucham Levovitz enter our hearts.