What We Create on Rosh Hashanah is Real and Permanent

Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon zt’l in his book with Hearts Full of Faith tells the story about Yom Kippur with the Mir Yeshiva during World War II when they were in Shanghai, China. It was unusual due to the location but also exceptional in terms of the kavanah and prayer atmosphere. Towards the end of the day, right before Neilah, Rav Yechezkel Levenstein, the Mirrer Mashgiach, shared the following idea that I believe can be useful for us as we embark on our journeys into Rosh Hashanah and through Aseret Ymei Teshuva.  He explained how many of the students present were probably thinking that this moment of inspiration will pass. Tomorrow we will slip from the high place onto which we have climbed today. “So what did we accomplish? What was the use?” you might ask. Rav Levenstein answered by way of a parable: "There was once a man who built himself a beautiful mansion. During the celebration upon finishing the mansion, he decided that he would climb up and place a beautiful ornament on the top of the roof. That great day came when he finished his mansion, and he made a special celebration and invited all his friends and family. The moment came when he climbed up to the roof to place the beautiful ornament. But just at that moment, a sudden gust of wind blew him off the roof. He dropped the ornament and fell to the ground. Dazed and in agony, he cried out, 'Oy, my mansion has fallen down. My mansion has fallen down.' His friends and family reassured him, 'Your mansion hasn't fallen down. You have. You may have broken bones and have to go to the hospital. But when you recover the mansion will still be there. You'll be able to go into it. It hasn't fallen down.” Rav Chazkel concluded, "My dear children, we built a mansion over the Yomim Noraim. Every prayer that we offered up is like a different room, and all together we have constructed a beautiful mansion. If tomorrow we feel that we have lost some of our inspiration, I want you to know that the mansion hasn't fallen down. It will be we that have fallen down. The mansion will still be standing. It will stand forever. One day, we will enter that mansion once again. When and how, that depends on us, but the mansion will always be there waiting for us. It will be there forever." Rabbi Salomon reflected on this story and wrote, "Rav Chazkel's words of encouragement to his students in the heat of a world war are an important lesson to all of us. When we stand in the shul and prepare to pray to G-D, the thought can sometimes be so intimidating that we may lose heart. We know that it will take so much emotional and spiritual effort to reach the highest level of prayer that we aspire to. Who knows if we will be successful? And even if we are, will we be able to maintain ourselves on that high level? Or will we fall back to earth, so to speak? And if we do, is all the effort worthwhile? The answer is, yes, most definitely yes. All the effort is indeed very worthwhile, because every transcendent prayer builds us a beautiful mansion. And no matter what happens, that mansion will endure forever." Davening on Yomim Noraim sounds different, looks different, and feels different. We are probably not in our usual seats nor our usual Shabbat location. Beyond that we may worry that any connection or growth that we feel over Rosh Hashanah will be fleeting. If we feel that, let us remember the story of Rav Levenstein. What we do and create over Rosh Hashanah is real and permanent and can never be undone or taken away.  Over this upcoming Tishrei season Let us try to build as beautiful a mansion as we can. In this merit, Hashem should inscribe us in the Book of Life for a healthy, happy and sweet New Year.