Thought for the Day: We Don't Say Thank You to HaShem on Rosh HaShanah, But We Thank HaShem with Our Whole Being

Have I mentioned how fortunate I feel to be learning in the Peterson Park Kollel? The mishna in Avos (4:2) says it is better to be the tail of a lion than the head of a fox. Besides all the talmidei chachamim who learn full time, there are lots of ba'alei batim (talmidei chachamim in their own rights) who spend a portion of their day in the kollel. In the mashal, I am barely the tip of the tail of the lion; and I feel very fortunate to be there.

As one of those ba'alei batim was leaving, he left me with a question: Why don't we say thank you to HaShem on Rosh HaShannah for everything that He has done for us since last Rosh HaShannah! I had an inkling of an answer, but the question was so good that I just wanted to enjoy it for a while. I thanked him as he was running out and then I spent some time contemplating that apparent gaping omission.

The truth is, the Mishna Brura, siman 112, addresses that question from a different angle. In shmone esrei, we are allowed (and encouraged, actually) to make personal requests only in the middle 12 (which are 13) brachos. Not, however, in the first three nor the last three. The first three are for praise and the last three for thanking. But hang on there! The last bracha is the biggest request of all! A request for שלום/peace; which is the container for all other brachos! How can we make that request -- a big request; maybe even the biggest possible request, you know, like using one of your three wishes to request another wish -- in the last bracha? The Shulchan Aruch finishes off: The prohibition of requests in the first and last three brachos is specifically for private requests, requests for needs of the community, though, are permitted.

Why are requests for the community permitted? The Mishna Brura, quoting the Tur, answers: The fact that the community needs their leader is also in the category of praise and respect. This bracha therefore not only is permitted to be included in the final brachos of praise and giving thanks, but Chazal even saw fit to make it the capstone of our t'tfila.

As luck would have it, R' Cziment spoke on just this topic in his weekly chumash shiur, How to Thank HaShem. I highly recommend you listen to this -- and all of -- R' Cziment's amazing shiurim.

Here is how I think about it. They say a story -- may or may not have happened, but it is certainly true. A young boy -- in the 8 to 15 year old range -- brought his mother a list of chores and charges. He felt his value and services were woefully unappreciated. "Clearing table -- 5$. Taking out garbage -- 3$. Loading dishwasher -- 2$. Unloading dishwasher 10$." There was more, but you get the idea. He handed her the list, waiting for a reaction. His mother simply read the list to herself, folded it up, and said, "Thank you." The next morning, she came upstairs to wake her son to start his day. She, as always, woke him gently, and then handed him a list. "Changing your diapers for two years -- 0$ Room and board since you came into this world -- 0$ Caring for you whenever you were sick or just down -- 0$" He rubbed his eyes, read the list, looked at the list, let the words sink in, then just hugged his mother and said, "Mommy, I love you." There is no way to thank our parents for all they did and certainly not for all their love. We don't need to. They are our parents. There is no greater praise and thanks than just saying mommy.

On Rosh HaShannah, we hear the shofar/wake up, remind ourselves of the amazing things HaShem has done and continues to do for us, and we declare that HaShem is Avinu Malkeinu, our loving Father, our King. There isn't anything else to say.