Words From Rabbi White

THE HONEY AND THE STING/ THE SHOFAR

I trust that you were inspired by the sound of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah.

As you know, there are 2 basic sounds from the shofar: the “teqi`ah” and the “teru`ah.” The “teqi’ah is a long blast, signifying exhaltation. On the other hand, the ”teru`ah” is shorter, signifying sighing or moaning.

There are three traditional interpretations as to how exactly we should sound the “tru`ah”:

(a) several very short blasts, which is your basic “teru’ah.”

(b) three slightly longer blasts, what we call “shevarim.”

c) a combination of both (a) and (b), what we call “shevarim-teru`ah”

In order to be certain that we are sounding the shofar properly, we do all of the three definitions of "teru`ah."

But what I have always found fascinating is that the “teru`ah,” whatever the definition, is always sandwiched in between 2 “teqi`ah”s. It seems to me that the message is clear: life is full of sighs and moans. We have to accept them, as it is part of life, but the “teqi`ah” aspect of life must prevail.

We know that a positive experience might be followed by a negative one, but in the end, the positive prevails.

Naomi Shemer expressed that idea so beautifully, turning around the expression that appears in Rashi’s commentary to the Bilaam story: “we tell the insect that we want neither your honey nor your sting.” The song tells us that we acept both, but the message of Yom Kippur is that we pray that the positive will prevail. [The rendition of kuloolam that is available on youtube, of the song “al kol eilah,” as sung by a large crowd of Israelis, both religious and secular, is most inspiring.]

Yom kippur concludes with the sounding of the shofar. But we sound only a “teqi`ah.” For the sanctity of Yom Kippur inspires us to enter the new year on a positive note. May it be a year in which the “honey” will overcome any “stings.”

Robert Skolnik observes for his father Yosef ben Moshe Chayin, on Tues., 8 Tishri. May the neshama have aliya

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Gemar hatima tovah to all. Rabbi Menahem White, Chevra Shaas