Other than the mitzvah of blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, perhaps the most important observance of the day is found in the Rosh Hashanah Musaf prayers. The Rosh Hashanah Musaf prayer contains nine blessings, making it the longest Musaf prayer (in terms of blessings) of the entire year. It has the standard six opening and closing blessings frame three unique blessings known as Malchiyot (Sovereignty), Zichronot (Remembrances) and Shofrot (Sounding of the Shofar), corresponding to three of the themes of the day. The blessing of Kedushat Hayom, sactity of the day, is merged together with Malchiyot, since they share many of the same themes.

Even after the holiday this theme of God’s Sovereignty lingers as we add references to God as Melech, King, into the liturgy throughout the 10 days of Repentance. Why is this theme of God’s Sovereignty so important?

Rosh Hashanah commemorates the day that Adam and Eve, the first people, were created. While there were creations before people were created, what is a King without subjects? When Adam and Ever were created and recognized that God was Master and King of the universe, they felt that it was necessary for all of creation to acknowledge this, transforming the day of their creation into the day of God’s coronation. For ever Rosh Hashanah is a reminder that God alone is the King.

I was thinking about this yesterday when I saw this crazy story about Lord Marmalade. Former President Donald Trump drew condemnation Monday after sharing, during celebrations of the Jewish New Year, a flier on his Truth Social platform asserting that liberal Jews who did not support him “voted to destroy America & Israel.” The flier that Trump shared on Truth Social on Sunday evening – which marked the end of Rosh Hashanah – plays into the anti-Semitic trope that Jewish Americans have dual loyalties to the US and to Israel. “Let’s hope you learned from your mistake & make better choices moving forward! Happy New Year!” the flier reads.

On Rosh Hashanah we commemorate that our only allegiance is to God the King. There are no other kings. As we prepare for Yom HaKipurim, we pause to realize that it is Yom K- Purim, a day like Purim. There are many parallels between Trump and king Achashverosh from the Purim story. We realize that insecure kings can easily be manipulated or manipulate people to maintain power. And in our history this all too often goes with the genocide of our people. Let’s hope we have learned from our mistake & make better choices moving forward! We must reject Trump and his politics of fear. Happy New Year!

#dumptrump