Ep. 515: How Can Rosh Hashana Help Us During This Time of War in Israel?

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:How can Rosh Hashana help us during this time of war in Israel? 

• Is it an open miracle that the Israeli army was able to dismantle the leadership of the Hezbollah terrorists in less than a week? 
• Is the killing of the head of Hezbollah and Israel’s recent victories connected to this time of year? 
• Is there a teaching that if a year begins badly it will end positively? 
• Is the year following Hakhel a time of diminished energy? 
• Is it significant that the secular anniversary of October 7th is on the 5th of Tishrei? 
• Should we be thanking G-d for these recent successes? 
• Should we be celebrating the fall of our enemies? 
• What can we do on Rosh Hashana to ensure the safe release of the hostages, and the final victory over our enemies? 
• Do we have a spiritual “nuclear option,” a special prayer or “tool” that is reserved for very serious times like this? 
• A beautiful story: Does intensifying commitment to Torah and mitzvos and unity help us win our battles? 
• Should we be gathering children during these days to add in prayer, Torah study and tzedaka, as the Rebbe instructed in previous times of challenge? 
• How can we encourage the Israeli leadership to continue to stand strong and not back down and succumb to outside pressures? 
• Should we return land for hostages? 
• How aggressive should Israel be in its war against Hamas in Gaza? 
• Should Charedim join the IDF? 

• How does Rosh Hashana empower us? 
• Does anything new happen on Rosh Hashana? And if yes, why don’t we feel it? 
• Why do we buy new clothes before Rosh Hashana? 
• Why do we dip an apple in honey? 
• Why can't Rosh Hashana begin on Friday as it was on the first Rosh Hashana? 
• Why do we pray for our personal needs on Rosh Hashana, and not focus primarily on coronating G-d as King and on His “needs”, and trust that He will bless us with all that we need? 

• What do we learn from Rosh Hashana going directly into Shabbos? 
• Has anyone come up with a fitting acronym for tov shin pei hei?
• Can we learn a lesson from 85 being 5 times 17 (tov)? 

What do we learn from Rosh Hashana and the Shofar? This year’s special schedule