LET GO AND GO HIGHER

Personal Redemption   Chazal tell us that when the shofar is blown, the Satan gets confused and thinks that the Moshiach is coming, and he fears that he will be slaughtered. The question is asked, how is it that the Satan keeps getting confused, year in, year out? Shouldn't he have learned by now that it's just the Shofar of Rosh Hashana? I heard a beautiful answer recently from the Toldos Yakov Yosef (A talmid of the Ba'al Shem Tov). He says that just like there will be a redemption on a national scale, there is also a personal redemption that every Jew can achieve. As it says, "Karva el Nafshi Ge'ala - bring my soul close to redemption". The Satan doesn't fear the national redemption when he hears the Shofar, instead, he sees that the soul of every Jew is awakened by the Shofar and achieves a certain level of "personal redemption". And it is THAT redemption that he fears so much! That is the power of the Shofar. When we declare Hashem as King over the world; when we recognize that there is NOTHING else but Him, a Jew is able to reach a higher state of consciousness. He no longer feels his "wants" and "needs". He no longer lives confined within his own personal world of desire. Instead, all he wants is for the honor of the King to fill the world! And this is truly a state of "personal redemption" - which the Satan fears so much. Ironically, Rosh Hashana is the day that our Parnassa and sustenance for the whole coming year is decided. It is precisely when we let go of all our "wants", "needs" and "desires" and wish only for Hashem's Kingdom to fill the world - THAT is when Hashem turns to us with love and says, "Here my son, take all the goodness of the world. I created it all for you".