Why is the generic term “hayom” taken to mean Rosh Hashanah?
The term “hayom,” which means “today,” is used throughout Tanach to mean a momentous event. An exploration of how this word is used teaches us something important about the season now upon us. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today, in the words of one wise man. Speaking of which, “tomorrow” has its own negative associations, as we shall see…
Sefer Iyov (1:6) says, “Vayehi hayom vayavo’u bnei haElokim l’hisyatzev al Hashem— And it was the day and the Angels came to stand before Hashem.” The term “the day” is ambiguous— which day? Says Rashi: “Rosh Hashanah.”
Every year, the parshah preceding Rosh Hashanah is parshas Nitzavim. The first pasuk in Nitzavim reads, “Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem — All of you are standing this day.” Many explain (see Pardes Yosef) that this refers to Rosh Hashanah, when we all stand in fear and awe before Hashem. Thus, this parshah is always read on the Shabbos preceding Rosh Hashanah.
Likewise, in Melachim Beis (4:8), the pasuk says, “Vayehi hayom vayaavor Elisha el Shunem — and it was on this day and Elisha went to Shunem.” The Zohar comments, “Any place where it says ‘vayehi hayom,’ it is Rosh Hashanah.” An obvious reference is in Tehillim (119:91): “L’mishpatecha amdu hayom ki hakol avadecha — For Your judgment, we stood this day, for we are all Your servants.” The frame of reference is clearly Rosh Hashanah. In fact, Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld says, the gematria of this pasuk is the same as that of Rosh Hashanah!
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