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Positive Expectations

 

We Blow the Shofar with Positive Expectations

 

            At the time of the splitting of the Red Sea, Miriam “took her drum in her hand, and all the women went forth after her with drums and circle dances” (Exodus 15:20).

            How was it that the women had musical instruments? Rashi explains that, when they saw God’s miracles in Egypt, they expected Him to perform yet more miracles after the Exodus. Therefore, they brought musical instruments along with which to accompany themselves when they would sing His praises in thanksgiving.

            The word for “circle dance,” mecholah, is related to the word for “forgiveness,” mechilah. Those who see life through the eyes of positive expectation will be forgiven their misdeeds. As a result, they will be privileged to dance in the world-to-come. Thus, “In the days to come, the Holy One, blessed be He, will arrange a circle dance for the righteous” (Ta’anit 31a).
            Elul is a month of positive expectation. During this time, the children of Israel in the wilderness were filled with the expectation that they would be forgiven for having danced around the Golden Calf and that Moses would descend from Mt. Sinai with the second set of Tablets. 
            We blow the shofar each day of Elul filled with positive expectation. We prepare throughout Elul for the judgment of Rosh Hashanah.

By: Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, n''y

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