Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Second Day Rosh Hashana - A Question


While it seems that much has been written about the unique character of the first day of Rosh Hashana, are there any Chassidic teachings about the unique character of the second day?

posted by A Simple Jew @ 12:22 PM   6 comments

6 Comments:

At September 5, 2007 at 11:22:00 PM EDT, Blogger Neil Harris said...

I thought I'd find something from the Sfas Emes, but alas, I could not. I did see something interesting by R Eliyahyu Kitov, though.

He brings down the ideas that the first day (back when we used witnesses to see the new moon)was 'miderabanan' and the second day of RH was considered the first of Tishrei and was looked upon as 'min HaTorah'. He continues to say, "At present, however when the months are fixed solely by calculations, and the first day of RH falles always on the first day of Tishrey, the first day is 'min HaTorah', while the second id 'miderabanan."

IMHO, I think that since RH is when we are reminded of Hashem's malchus over the world it seems fit that we acknowledge that 'miderabanan' is given equal attention in Hashem's eyes.

 
At September 5, 2007 at 11:41:00 PM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You can take a look in Rav Erlanger's kuntreys "Koyl haShoyfor" (I got it recently and didn't learn it through yet though).

His kuntreysim were recently republished as a nice sforim set.

 
At September 6, 2007 at 6:13:00 AM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

In a general sense, first day is ruchnius, second gashmius.

Bnei Yissaschar says minhag is to NOT eat simanim on the second night, but many chassidim do.

 
At September 6, 2007 at 6:21:00 AM EDT, Blogger Moshe David Tokayer said...

Reb Tzadok HaCohen writes about the second day of Rosh HaShana in Pri Tzadik on Rosh HaShana os 27. Unfortunately I don't have the time just now to properly translate. The general idea though, is based on a Midrash Shocheir Tov that brings the pasuk in Tehillim, "נר לרגלי דברך ואור לנתיבתי/Your word is a candle for my feet and a light for my path." The Midrash asks about the significance of ner vs or. The Pri Tzadik says that it's also a remez to the time from Rosh HaShana until Yom Kippur. Rosh HaShana represents a candle - the beginning of Torah enlightenment from the source. From the second day onward there is more and more revelation of Torah light until the revelation of salvation on Yom Kippur.

The Pri Tzadik then discusses the significance of the second day of Rosh Hashana based on the pesukim in Nechemia describing the reading of the Sefer Torah on Rosh HaShana during the time of Ezra. The pasuk says that "on the second day the heads of the families ... gathered together to Ezra the scribe, to delve into the words of the Torah."

This, according to the Pri Tzadik, refers to a revelation of Torah shebeal Peh and it is the source of holiness of the second day of Rosh HaShana. Tosfos in Maseches Rosh HaShana states that from the time of Ezra throughout Bayis Sheni Elul was never me'ubar. During the entire time of bayis sheni there was only one day rosh hashana. The exception was the very first rosh HaShana as this pasuk from Nechemia describes.

It is particularly significant that Bayis Sheni began with a two day Rosh HaShana, the second of which, represents Torah SheBeal Peh since during bayis sheni there was the institution of Anshei Knesses HaGedola , the source of revelation of Torah SheBeal Peh.

Only after the destruction of the second beis hamikdash did Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai decree two day Rosh HaShanas since it was during his time that torah shebeal peh became fully established with the students of Shamai and Hillel. Obviously, Torah Shebeal peh was around before from ma'amad har sinai. Apparently, though, Reb Tzadok is saying that the machlokes lesheim shamayim of the schools of Shamai and Hillel were the main Torah shebeal peh in the sense of elu ve'elu divrei Elokim chaim. The idea of chidush came to the fore during the period of bayis sheni and it is for this reason that from that time forward we have two days of Rosh Hashana.

 
At September 6, 2007 at 11:24:00 AM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I heard from Reb Moshe Wolfson shlita that Rosh Hashanah is called "Yom Hazikoron"; so, we should remember to think about our friends and daven for whatever their needs are on the second day of Rosh Hashanah.

On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, however, we should only daven for k'vod shomayim.

 
At September 6, 2007 at 11:57:00 AM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I didn't have a chance to look into it yet, but here's some info (based mostly on R' Simon Jacobson's book, "60 Days" among other tid-bits floating in my head):
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First day:
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Corresponds to the Sefira of Malchus according to the Ramak, Keser according to the Ari.

1st day of Binyan Hamalchus

Corresponds to the first Friday - Creation of Adam & Chava

Eating from the Eitz Hadaas; Banished from the garden

Akeidas Yitzchok

Sarah passes away

Day of judgement (severity)

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Second day:
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Corresponds to the sfira of Yesod according to the Ramask, Chochma according to the Ari

2nd day of Binyan Hamalchus

First Shabbos

The day of G-d's forgiveness

Special power for teshuva - which can be seen by the fact that shabbos is the letters tashuv - Indeed, the second day is one of greater joy and thankfulness, since on that day Shabbos itself saved humanity from distraction by complaining to G-d that it would be unfair for G-d to destroy on its day, when he created on all other days.

Day of forgiveness (joy)

 

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