Have You Repented Lately?
Every year, we have been reading the same parsha on the first day of Rosh Hashana. Three words bother me, especially the way they are translated, interpreted, and, most of all, embraced by society. I want to mention once again that this is only my opinion. I believe the existing interpretation keeps people from making full repentance and truly embracing the way of Hashem. So, with your permission, please allow me to get a bit more specific.
In Parashat Vayera 21:17 it says - "וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אֱלֹהִים֮ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַנַּ֒עַר֒ וַיִּקְרָא֩ מַלְאַ֨ךְ אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ אֶל־הָגָר֙ מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָ֖הּ מַה־לָּ֣ךְ הָגָ֑ר אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֧ע אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶל־ק֥וֹל הַנַּ֖עַר בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הוּא־שָֽׁם׃ - G-d heard the cry of the boy, and a messenger of G-d called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for G-d has heard the cry of the boy in his present state." בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הוּא־שָֽׁם - Baasher Hu Sha’m - in his present state - these are the 3 words that I was talking about. Rashi explains this as, according to the actions he is now doing shall he be judged and not according to what he may do in the future. And since in the word Baasher the Bet means In or Within, it means that Hashem is trying to tell us that something is hidden within.
This needs to be understood well since once we get it, it will unlock other important areas.
First, we must understand the Sha’m - There.. something has happened somewhere… In Parashat Lech Lecha 16:7-16, when Hagar runs away from Sarai, an angel finds her by the spring of water. In his conversation with Hagar, the angel instructs her to return to her mistress and submit to her domination. He tells her that she will have a son and she should name him Ishmael, and the angel specifies the negative characteristics the boy will have. And so it was - when Sarah Imenu saw how Ishmael was mocking and going against Yitzchak, she asked Avraham Avinu to drive him and his mother Hagar out of the house because of the threat Ishmael posed to Yitzchak's spiritual growth and physical being.
That's why the angel has used the word: Baasher Hu Sha’m - to mean not as much as "in his present state" but as he, the angel, has prophesized there before, or predicted, or has made up the boy's future there at that time to be.
So, the fact that Sarah Imenu threw him out of the house is not something we should question or be amazed about. Since it all goes according to plan - Ishmael behaves as the angel had predicted.
From generation to generation, we come to the Holiday of Rosh Hashana, and we are told that if we sit, pray, and be nice to others -- and since all along we were taught that Hashem's judgment depends on "our present state" no matter our teshuva status, then we are guaranteed a good judgment. As if no repentance is required - just sit and smile and believe that your teshuva is accepted - and many have done exactly that for years.
But, as you make your way in life, in your daily encounters with people, you see their good or bad character traits. And on Rosh Hashana, a person from that crowd goes to shul and prays as Baasher Hu Sha’m - as he was created there - by his parents, years back at the time of the conception. The parents may not be around anymore, but he is the result and the fruit of that union. In this world, he relates to others as Baasher Hu Sha’m - as it was programmed into him - displaying either good or evil traits by being an amazing individual or an evil person.
But let's go a bit further!!
Why would the Sages include the parsha where Ishmael is mentioned in the reading of the First Day of Rosh Hashana? The Rosh Hashana Day is meant to proclaim Hashem as King - to make Him the King of our Nation and a Ruler of the World. How does Ishmael fit into all of this?
It is to show the World that Hashem has chosen only the descendants of Yitzchak as His Nation. But also to show the Chosen Nation the dedication of the unchosen nation - the number of times it prays and its willingness to go the distance to "proclaim G-d". It is a battle between Sarah Imenu and Hagar that has lasted for thousands of years. Therefore, to win - We must improve our service and commitment to G-d. Abolish those thorny man-to-man traits that have plagued us for thousands of years. And finally, make that full repentance.
So, my reader... Have you... repented lately???
Shmuel Katanov
