Someone who has a negative experience with the Yomim Noraim is not properly embracing these precious days. I want to offer a new perspective on Rosh Hashanah that may help many people approach this holy day with a healthier mindset. If you already feel inspired and uplifted by Rosh Hashanah, that’s wonderful, and I am not suggesting you change anything. My thoughts are meant to guide those who don't yet have a healthy relationship with this very special day.

While Rosh Hashanah is known as Yom HaDin, or the day of judgment, I don’t believe that's the essence of the day. Rosh Hashanah marks the creation of Adam HaRishon. It’s the day when human life began and when Hashem’s kingship was revealed, because a king needs a nation to rule.  

What does the Torah say about Rosh Hashanah? It simply calls it a yom teruah, a day of blowing the shofar. Rav Saadya Gaon explains that we blow the shofar on Rosh Hashanah just like trumpets are sounded at a king’s coronation. Since Rosh Hashanah was the first day Hashem became our King, we repeat this experience every year by reaccepting Hashem as our King. 

What is it like to be at a coronation? People feel many emotions. There is excitement because the king is coming, and everyone will see him in his full glory and show their loyalty. At the same time, there is some fear, since the king has complete power and our lives are in his hands. We want to act our best. When the king arrives, the crowd becomes silent and feels a sense of awe. This is an awe that we enjoy and eagerly anticipate.

Another passuk calls Rosh Hashanah a day of “remembrance of blowing”. This references an idea mentioned elsewhere in Parshas B’ha’aloschah that the blowing of a horn has the power to cause Hashem to remember us, so to speak. Rosh Hashanah is the day when Hashem created us, and thus, each year He renews His relationship with us at this time. This is a special chance to connect with the King of Kings, who is also our loving Father. Yet a close relationship with the King demands a certain behavior and mode of conduct.

What is our mood supposed to be like on Rosh Hashanah? To my knowledge, the only indication in Tanach is the passuk in Nechemiah (8:9) where Nechemiah tells the people not to cry over their sins. He instructs them not to be sad, but to have festive meals and rejoice. The poskim say we should not do vidui or confession on Rosh Hashanah, and some rule that we should not even mention our sins. It is a festive day, focused on the privilege of accepting Hashem as our King and maintaining a personal relationship with Him.     

Chazal reveal a secret about Rosh Hashanah: it is a day of judgment. This is very understandable: since Hashem created us and became our King on this day, it is an appropriate time to reflect on our role as His people and consider whether we are meeting His expectations. Still, the written Torah does not mention this judgment. Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l (Emes L’yaakov, Emor 23:24) explains that if we use Rosh Hashanah to truly accept Hashem’s Kingship, we will earn all the merits we need, so we do not need to focus on the judgment. But as the generation declined, and we became lax in performing the avodah necessary for this precious day, Chazal shared this secret to inspire us to take Rosh Hashanah more seriously.

But judgment is not the essence of the day. The day is about Hashem’s coronation and our creation, and the judgment is a byproduct of that. The same Mishnah that teaches that Rosh Hashanah is a day of judgment also teaches that Pesach, Shavuos, and Succos are days of judgment. That doesn’t turn them into days of dread and negativity. In fact, they are the happiest days of the year. Yet, there is a judgment, and we must keep that in mind. Although Rosh Hashanah carries a more all-encompassing judgment than the other Yamim Tovim, it remains, at its essence, a Yom Tov on which we celebrate our relationship with Hashem.

Even after Chazal revealed the secret about the judgment, the day's focus didn't change. In Shmoneh Esrai and Kiddush, Rosh Hashanah is still called Yom HaZikaron, the day of remembrance, not Yom HaDin, the day of judgment. In the Shmoneh Esrai prayers of Ma’ariv, Shacharis, and Minchah, there is no mention of judgment, only Hashem’s kingship. Even in Mussaf, judgment (zichronos) is just one of three main themes. And even then, when Hashem’s judgment is mentioned, the focus is positive—Hashem remembers us and the promise He made to us.

I believe that this perspective on Rosh Hashanah can be transformative. Let us embrace a paradigm shift by viewing Rosh Hashanah as a day of connection and positivity, as taught by both the written and oral Torah.

Certainly, many Gedolei Yisrael throughout the generations focused on the judgment of Rosh Hashanah and the fear that accompanies it. This is definitely a true element of the day. If that focus inspires healthy, positive growth, then that approach is certainly commendable. The Chazon Ish once commented that there are many ways to climb up a mountain; the main thing is to reach the top. If someone is successfully climbing the mountain of Rosh Hashanah through healthy fear, they should certainly keep going. However, if fear holds someone back or causes them to stumble, it’s important to remember that there are many ways to reach the top.

May we all approach Rosh Hashanah with anticipation and embrace it as a day of renewal and growth. May each of us discover the path that brings us closer to Hashem and inspires us to wholeheartedly accept His kingship.