Rosh HaShana and Parashas Ha'azinu - Lite Feathers Vs. Tainted Feathers

Rosh HaShana and Parashas Ha'azinu
By Nisso Stein


The Zohar in Parashas Metzora says, "The prayer of one who speaks loshon hora will not come before the Holy One, Blessed is He, for a ruach tamei hovers over it."


Imagine this: When someone learns Torah and prays to Hashem with concentration, his words are like a feather floating up into the air. With every word of Torah or tefillah, a gust of wind carries the light feather higher and higher floating it's way up, in a smooth motion. However, when someone speaks loshon hora, that pure, lite feather gets dipped into a bucket of black paint before attempting to float. That feather isn't going to get too far. Those words of Torah and tefilla are now tainted.


On Rosh Hashana, most of the things we do are done with our words. It's about doing teshuva for the sins one have done throughout the year, hoping we will be written and signed in the Books of Life, Health, Parnassa, etc. Another thing we do during Rosh HaShana is Tashlich and Simanim. There's a minhag to eat certain foods and to say a Yehi Ratzon to help get a good decree for the year, etc.


The Rambam asks, "How does one repent? The petitioner says: Hashem, I have sinned before You... I have done this and this sin... I am embarrassed and I will never do it again!" And this is the prominent. [1] We see in the Rambam that one needs to verbalize his regrets of sins as part of his teshuva process.


During the Rosh HaShana davening we cry out, "Teshuva, Tefillah, Tzidaka, ma'avirin es ro'ah gzira!"
Tzidaka is easy to do; just find a poor person and give them money.
Tefillah; anyone can read out of a siddur.
However, regarding (proper tefillah and teshuva,) how can someone do proper Teshuva if the words he pleads are tainted?


Perhaps we can now understand why the Torah says a metzora (someone who's afflicted with tzaraas for having spoken loshon hora) calls out to those who pass by, "[I am] contaminated, contaminated!" He's asking others to pray for him since his own prayers will not be accepted Above, therefore the Torah advises him to request that others pray on his behalf. [2]


I think it's very appropriate when Rosh HaShana and Parashas Ha'azinu falls out on the same week because, the parasha starts with, "Listen, O heaven and I will speak; and may the earth hear my mouth's saying. Let my instruction drop like rainfall, may the utterance flow like dew, like storm winds upon vegetation... When I pronounce the Name of Hashem, give greatness to our God."


If you notice the way Moshe Rabbeinu expressed himself, it was similar to the example I gave above with the feather. He pleads saying, "Hear my words. They aren't tainted in any way. Let them flow like rainfall or drip like dew," in a pure and smooth fashion. Moshe davened for Klal Yisroel many times because he was able to! His words weren't 'weighted down' because he knew how important the gift of speech is.


This year, maybe we can take upon ourselves to guard our speech. The new cycle for Chofetz Chaim starts on Rosh HaShana! If you're interested [current Bais guys], I am willing to give you the sefer for free on condition you do it everyday for one year. You can choose to do it either in Hebrew or English. Please see me as soon as possible so that we can get you started. And please forgive me for anything I might have done or said which might have hurt you in any way.


Ksiva VChassima Tova!


[1] Hilchos Teshuva 1:1
[2] Vayikra 13:45