The power our Jewish matriarchs have bequeathed us
Today is the birthday of the world.
In Lashon Hakodesh the words for day, week, and month are all masculine, yet the word for year is feminine. Thus perhaps we can say that the beginning of the year is the original Jewish “Mother’s Day.”
During Rosh Hashanah davening, we mention four Jewish women who teach us fundamentals for meriting good judgment.
In the Krias HaTorah on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Sarah tells Avraham to send Yishmael away, lest he negatively influence Yitzchak. But Avraham was reluctant to do so, as Yishmael was his son.
After tekias shofar, we beg Hashem to determine whether we’re sons or servants. If we are servants, it’s much easier to send us away, as Sarah sent away Hagar and Yishmael. But as His children, Hashem will be more reluctant to banish us, as Avraham was to Yishmael. (Rav Shimon Schwab, Selected Speeches)
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