The Shofar and the Beeper: A Mystical Wake-Up Call Before Rosh Hashanah

Rabbi Aron Moss, spiritual leader of the Nefesh community in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, receives many questions each day, which he answers with wisdom, wit, humor, and sensitivity.

Question of the Week:

Does the Rabbi see any significance in the fact that the recent beeper explosions occurred just before Rosh Hashanah?

Answer:

Kabbalistic teachings explain that our reality is composed of two sides: one of light and one of darkness. These two sides mirror each other, like reflections. Whatever can be found on the side of impurity has a parallel on the side of holiness.

On that Tuesday, terrorists from Hezbollah ("Party of God") received messages on their beepers—supposedly from their leadership. While they were reading the messages, the beepers exploded. In a mysterious turn of events, thousands of terrorists were instantly neutralized in the middle of their daily routines.

If this event happened on the dark side of reality, then there is surely a reflection of it on the side of light, and perhaps this is what it means: The true "Party of God" is the Jewish people, chosen by G-d for a unique mission. As members of that movement, each one of us has a "beeper"—a Jewish soul capable of receiving messages from our Divine Leader.

On Rosh Hashanah, a powerful message is broadcast to every Jewish soul. It’s the sound of the shofar, calling us to attention. To others, it may sound like a strange noise from a ram’s horn, but to us, who are tuned into the signal, it is a resonant voice awakening our inner spirit to new life. We hear it, and it changes us forever.

The dramatic events of the past year are like one great shofar blast, calling us all to wake up and be real. The two sides of reality—good and evil—are becoming clearer than ever. We must choose the side of light and increase the good in the world.

Light must prevail, and it will. Hezbollah received the message. Now we must receive ours.