Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish year, a time rich with significance and spiritual opportunity. It’s not just the start of a new calendar year, but a moment to lay the foundation for everything that follows. On this day, Jews around the world focus on positive omens, partake in symbolic foods, and strive to maintain a joyous and hopeful mood. This is because every action on Rosh Hashanah sets the tone for the entire year.

The concept of beginnings holds profound importance in Torah. We are commanded to dedicate all our “firsts” to Hashem—whether it’s the first shearings of wool, the first of the dough, or the firstborn of man and animal. Rabbi Zev Leff explains that the importance of these “firsts” lies not in their quality alone, but in their role as the root and foundation of all that follows. Just as a building’s foundation must be flawless to ensure the structure’s integrity, so too must the beginnings in our spiritual lives be pure and holy, for any imperfection at the root will magnify as it grows.

The Torah’s focus on firsts underscores the power of a good beginning. For instance, when Rabbi Chiya sought to reintroduce Torah learning in a generation where it had been forgotten, he didn’t just teach Torah directly. He began by planting flax, which he then used to create nets to catch deer. He wrote the Five Books of the Torah on the skins of those deer and traveled from town to town, teaching Torah to small groups of boys, who would then teach others. This meticulous attention to the foundation—starting from scratch, with pure intentions—ensured that the Torah would be established in a manner that was holy and enduring.

Rosh Hashanah is also the beginning of the Ten Days of Repentance, leading up to Yom Kippur. During this time, it is customary to be more stringent in observance of mitzvot, a practice that might seem puzzling at first. Are we trying to deceive Hashem into believing we are more pious than we are? The answer lies in understanding that Rosh Hashanah is not just the start of the year, but the reishit hashanah—the root and foundation of the year. Each of these ten days must be treated as a first, dedicated to Hashem with utmost purity and holiness. These extra stringencies are not for show but are intended to build a strong spiritual foundation that will support us throughout the year.

Focusing on Perfection: The Key to True Teshuvah

Interestingly, Rosh Hashanah is not a day for focusing on our sins. Instead, it’s a time to establish a deep connection with Hashem, to envision the world as it could be in its perfected state. Rabbi Leff teaches that Hashem, who is perfect, created an imperfect world where His presence is often hidden. Our role is to reveal Hashem’s presence within this world, thereby connecting to Him and contributing to its perfection.

In Judaism, quality is often valued over quantity. For example, we make a blessing over a small, whole roll rather than a large, broken loaf of bread. This focus on wholeness over size emphasizes the importance of purity and completeness in our service to Hashem. Rosh Hashanah comes before Yom Kippur because it’s essential to first recognize and connect with the ideal of perfection—both in the world and within ourselves. Only after we have a clear vision of this perfection can we truly engage in the process of teshuvah, or repentance.

On Rosh Hashanah, we are like newborn infants, untainted by sin. We focus on the connection, the love, and the perfection that comes from aligning ourselves with Hashem’s will. This vision of a perfect world, where everything is unified under Hashem’s kingship, sets the stage for the teshuvah process that follows. By understanding what perfection looks like, we can better appreciate the imperfections we need to correct, leading us to sincere repentance and spiritual growth.

The Tanya, a foundational text of Chabad Chassidus, emphasizes the importance of this connection and the joy it brings. In Chapter 31, the Alter Rebbe writes, “When a person is sad or worried, he is like someone who is locked in prison… but when a person experiences the joy of the soul, his soul is free, and it can soar and connect with Hashem.”

On Rosh Hashanah, by focusing on the positive and connecting deeply with Hashem, we free our souls, enabling them to rise above past mistakes and embrace the potential for a year of growth and holiness.

Conclusion

Rosh Hashanah is not just the beginning of the year; it’s the foundation upon which the entire year is built. By dedicating our firsts to Hashem, by focusing on positive connections, and by envisioning the world in its perfected state, we set the stage for true spiritual growth. As the Gemara teaches, “From a good beginning comes good.” With a strong foundation rooted in holiness, the entire year can be filled with blessing and success.

May this Rosh Hashanah usher in a year of clarity, renewal, and connection—with ourselves, with others, and with Hashem.