A king was once riding through a forest and was so taken by the beauty and wonder around him that he became lost. He rode on for a very long until he met a forester who recognized the king and offered to escort the king back to the royal palace. Along the way the king and the forester spoke about many things and the king became very fond of the forester. The forester even sang an ancient melody from the oldest wood. The king invited the forester to remain on the royal estate as the chief forester and keeper of the King’s Grove.

Many years passed and the forester served the king as best as he could. Rumours reached the king that the forester may have been rebellious against the king. The king was angry and disappointed, but due to the nature of the reports he received he sentenced the forester to death. Before he was taken out to be executed, the king had the forester brought before him and granted him one last request.

The forester respectfully requested the he be able to wear the clothes he wore the day he met the King when he was lost in the forest, and that be able to sing the ancient melody from the oldest wood.

The king granted the forester’s wish, looked at him and remembered that day they met so many years ago. The king closed his eyes and listened to the ancient melody and his heart was melted. The king’s anger gave way to mercy and he proclaimed “By your life, you have saved yourself,” and called off the execution.

Everyday we say “Hear, O Israel: The L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One. And you shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) We must realize that when we say: “And you shall love the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 6:5), which means that you shall make the name of Heaven beloved…. Great is repentance: it brings healing to the world.” (Yoma 86a)

Throughout the year people may have inadvertently or accidentally sinned while others have deliberately transgressed and rebelled. In any case, like the forester in the story, the arrival of Rosh Hashanah – the Day of Judgment we are fearful indeed. He reminds us that one must “Humble yourself here and you won’t be humbled hereafter.” (Exodus Rabbah 30:19)

So we blow the shofar to recall the shofar blowing that accompanied our original acceptance of the Torah and coronation of G‑d. The sound of the shofar stirs us to seek forgiveness and repentance. This merit stands by us, and G‑d forgives us all our sins and inscribes us in the Book of Life for a year of goodness and hope.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

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