Rav Yeruchem Olshin on the Shofar's Call to Our Precious Neshamos
Adapted for Bais Yaakov Students by Rabbi Yair Hoffman
When we hear the piercing sound of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, what is it really telling us? The Rambam teaches us that while blowing shofar is a mitzvah from the Torah, it also carries a powerful message: "Wake up from your spiritual sleep! Look deeply into yourselves and do teshuvah!" But there's one phrase the Rambam uses that needs special explanation: "Habitu lenafshoseichem" - "Look into your neshamos." What does it mean to truly look at our neshamah, and how does this help us?
Two Paths to Avoiding Wrong
The Midrash Shmuel explains a beautiful idea from Pirkei Avos. The Mishna says, "Contemplate three things to avoid sin: Where did you come from? Where are you going? Before Whom will you be judged?" The Mishna then repeats these questions and answers them: You came from a simple drop. You're going to a place of dust and worms. You'll stand before Hashem for judgment.
Why does the Mishnah ask the questions twice? The Midrash Shmuel explains that there are actually two different approaches to staying away from wrong:
The First Approach - Recognizing Our Humility: When we remember how small we are - that we came from nothing and will return to dust - it keeps us humble and prevents the pride that leads to many sins.
The Hidden Approach - Remembering Our Greatness: But there's another way. We can also remember where our neshamah really comes from - from under Hashem's Throne of Glory! We are each a "chelek Elokah mima'al" - a piece of Hashem from above. When we truly understand this, we think: "How could someone as precious and elevated as I am do something so beneath my dignity?"
The Power of Knowing Your Worth
This isn't about Gaavah - it's about recognizing our incredible spiritual status as Bnos Yisroel. As Dovid Hamelech said, "My portion is with Hashem" - not as Gaavah, but to inspire me to be who I really am.
Rabbeinu Yonah teaches that the very first step in serving Hashem is understanding our own incredible worth - recognizing how precious we are in Hashem's eyes, along with the greatness of our foremothers who came before us. When we're faced with temptation, this awareness should make us feel embarrassed. We should think: "How can someone as special as me, a daughter of Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, and Leah, someone who carries such a holy neshamah, possibly do something so unworthy of who I am?"
Rav Yaakov Emden explains that there's actually a good kind of pride - "ga'avas dikedushah" - holy pride. Just as Hashem has dignity and doesn't lower Himself, we too should have dignity about our kedushah. We shouldn't let ourselves be dragged down by the shallow, empty pursuits of the world around us. This is like the special quality of Jewish boldness - "azus dikedushah." We have the strength to ignore peer pressure and social trends when they conflict with our values, because we know who we are.
When We Fall Short
What happens when we've already made mistakes? The same principle applies to teshuvah. If we've gotten caught up in behaviors unworthy of our neshamah, we can return by remembering our true greatness.
When we reflect on the incredible holiness of our neshamah - that it was carved from beneath Hashem's Throne, that we come from the lineage of our holy mothers - we'll be filled with regret. We'll realize how far we've lowered ourselves by forgetting our true worth. This recognition brings us back to Hashem with genuine teshuvah.
The Shofar's Message to Us
Now we understand what the Rambam means by "Habitu lenafshoseichem" - Look into your neshamos! The shofar is calling out to us: "Remember who you really are! Don't get lost in the shallow distractions of the world. Remember the kedushah you carry within you!"
The shofar reminds us not to waste our precious time and energy on things that are empty and meaningless. Instead, we should focus on our neshamah and involve ourselves in activities that help us grow spiritually - things that are truly worthwhile for someone of our elevated status.
The Special Light of Rosh Hashanah
During the year, it's easy to forget our true worth. The darkness of this material world clouds our spiritual vision and makes it hard to see and understand our incredible value as Jewish daughters.
But on Rosh Hashanah, a special Heavenly light comes down to illuminate our hearts and minds. This light allows us to see clearly - to recognize what it really means to have a neshamah that comes from such a holy source, to understand what it means to be a "chelek Elokah mima'al." This is what Dovid Hamelech meant when we say, "L'Dovid Hashem Ohri -Hashem is my light" - "my light" refers to Rosh Hashanah.
Our Avodah This Rosh Hashanah
As we enter this holy time, our avodah is clear: "Habitu lenafshoseichem" - Look deeply into your neshamos! Recognize your incredible worth as Jewish daughters. Understand what it means to carry such a precious neshamah within you. This recognition will lead us to complete teshuvah. When we truly understand who we are, we'll naturally want to live up to our potential.
We'll make resolutions that are real and meaningful, with genuine confidence that we can stay away from anything unworthy of our elevated status. Rabbeinu Yonah taught us that recognizing our own worth is the very first doorway to serving Hashem. If any time of year represents this "first doorway," it's surely Rosh Hashanah - when we can become completely renewed.
Let's enter this new year with a true understanding of our incredible value, with recognition of the holiness of our neshamos, and with the awareness of what it means to be precious daughters of Hashem. When we remember who we really are, every commitment we make will be genuine and lasting. This is the powerful message the shofar carries in those two simple words: "Habitu lenafshoseichem" - Remember the treasure that is your neshamah, and live accordingly.