H/t Sherry
Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff
When Rosh haShanah falls on Shabbat, extra-ordinary things happen. Rabbi Hajioff explains.
What can we expect?
Rosh Hashanah 2026 falls on Shabbat, and Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff explains why this year carries such a powerful message.
What is the real meaning of Rosh Hashanah?
Why does the Torah describe it as a day of sounding the shofar rather than simply a “Day of Judgment”?
And what does the shofar reveal about teshuvah, judgment, redemption and the year ahead?
In this conversation, Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff explores the deeper meaning of the shofar, the spiritual significance of listening, and the teaching that Rosh Hashanah is a microcosm of the entire coming year.
We discuss:
• Why the shofar is the central Torah mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah
• The connection between listening, judgment and the scales of Rosh Hashanah
• Why the shofar represents the inner cry of the Jewish soul
• The shofar of Mount Sinai and the future shofar of redemption
• The Rambam’s famous description of the shofar as a spiritual wake up call
• Why one mitzvah can change a person and even impact the entire world
• What Rosh Hashanah means for Jews who only come to synagogue once or twice a year
• The remarkable lesson of Ishmael and “ba’asher hu sham”
• Why a person is judged according to who they are right now
• How teshuvah, tefillah and tzedakah can change a difficult decree
• Why Rosh Hashanah 2026 falling on Shabbat is especially worth thinking about
• A blessing for a sweet new year, redemption and the rebuilding of the Third Temple
Rabbi Hajioff explains that Rosh Hashanah is not simply about fear. It is about renewal. It is the moment when we stop, listen, examine who we are and recognize that the coming year can still be changed.
May we all be written and sealed for a Shana Tova U’Metuka, a good and sweet year filled with blessing, peace and redemption.
Each time Rosh ha Shanah has fallen on Shabbat, an unfortunate event has occurred. Some are calling for all Jews, even those who don't keep Shabbat to do so on Rosh haShanah to sweeten the din since we won't have the shofar.
ReplyDeleteI think they are aiming too high. In my opinion they should be calling for everyone to light Shabbat candles. Give them something easy to do, not something impossible. The Torah says "remember the Sabbath day...." and by lighting candles they are doing that. It is in everyone's reach. Asking people to keep Shabbat may be too high a mountain to climb. The Rabbis need to understand the generation we are in, we are the heel... most Jews are irreligious, they wouldn't even know how to keep Shabbat.
DeleteThe Lubavitcher Rebbe would encourage people to do small things first.
Just my thoughts.
You make a good point. I agree that lighting candles is a more realistic goal.
DeleteI became frum with only 2 simple commitments: to wear a yarmulka (I was in Israel, and this was easy there), and to go to people's houses for shabbos meals (not keep shabbos). The rabbi at the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur davening there advised us to take all the energy from the holidays and make 1 or 2 small commitments.
DeleteThere is a misconception that something always terrible happens when rosh hashana falls on shabbos it couldn't be further to the truth example ww1 began july 28 1914, hebrew year 5674 that year rosh hashona was thursday and 5675 monday
ReplyDeleteWw2 the worst calimity on the jews
September 1 1939 rosh hashna 5700 september that year was on Thursday again the year before 5699 monday then during the holocaust rosh hashana fell out only 2 times on shabbos
1940 - 5701 thursday
1941 - 5702 monday
1942 - 5703 shabbos
1943 - 5704 thursday
1944 - 5705 monday
1945 5706 shabbos
People must stop with half truths and scare the jewish people look at your sources carefully before making allegations, true some times you can say something bad has happened but its not always like that
Rabbi Hajioff made the point that the Shofar cannot be blown on the first day of RH and that the Shofar protects us. That is why we need to be extra vigilant to protect ourselves.
DeleteExactly. It falls out on Shabbat next year too, which I think is the last year before Shmittah.
DeleteThe thing about the shofar protecting to has been taken out of context and people have used bits and pieces to scare the jewish people
ReplyDeleteThe part where the shofar protects us is very true, the fear mongering is coming from daf 16 mesechet rosh hashana
And Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Any year during which the shofar was not sounded at its beginning will suffer misfortune at its end.
This you have to be careful on as its reffering to a year that you could have blown but didn't, not including shabbos
A matter of fact on shabbos there is no shofar but shabbos protects us shabbos is the shofar
In kabbalat shabbos we read before borchu in nusach ari and other nusachim roza deshobbos, in a nut shell on shabbos malchus which is includes our universe becomes one with hashem as malchus merges into one all strict judgements go away all is one, i suggest go learn that before coming up with doom and gloom, besides in mesechet shabbos daf 119 it says
Amar Rav Hamnuna... "Rav Hamnuna said: Anyone who prays on the eve of Shabbat and recites Vayechulu, which follows Yom HaShishi) the verse ascribes him credit as if he became a partner with the Holy One, Blessed be He, in the Act of Creation."
Further more afterwards
Amar Reish Lakish... "Reish Lakish said: Anyone who responds 'Amen' with all his might has the gates of Gan Eden opened for him... And Rav Chisda said in the name of Mar Ukva: Anyone who prays on the eve of Shabbat and recites Vayechulu, two ministering angels place their hands on his head and say to him: 'Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is purged' (Isaiah 6:7)."
No shofar but we have shabbos and instead of scaring the jews who have suffered enough go encourage them
Moshiach wont judge us and be a man of doom and say why did you do this and that, he will look at our circumstances and see what led us to sin the harsh conditions of exile ect
That's very encouraging, thank you for the information.
DeleteI also thought of another bonus.... the fact that Rosh haShanah is on Friday night means that most people will be having a festive meal for the Yomtov, and even if they normally don't have a festive meal for Shabbat, it will happen anyway as a result of the Yomtov.
So that's another positive aspect.
BH
DeleteHey anonymous you have a 6:7 Isaiah, anyway, check out Chabad.org for Rosh HaShana on Shabbos only good things to say.
Think good and it will be good!
Good year to all
Moshiach doesn’t judge us ,only HaShem is the true judge, that’s not his job to judge anyone.
Delete,Actually the Moshiach will possess an extraordinary, spiritual sense of smell that allows him to discern truth and judge people by the "scent of their soul" rather than relying on outward appearance.
DeleteTrue hashem is the only true and only judge but moshiach with judge and by smell.
ReplyDeleteGo read haftorah last day pesach its mentioned in the talmud and yermiyahu, and the lubavitcher rebbe has allot to say on it as well
The Rebbe knew also knew who everyone was.
Delete