This is the meaning of the verse, "Blow on the New Moon the shofar." Grammatically, the verse should have said, "Blow the shofar on the New Moon." The allusion of the verse is that a person should always be in a state of renewal like the New Moon, that is, that one always seeks to do good deeds that one has never done before, so that one's good deeds do not become a fixed ritual. This is alluded to in the conclusion of this verse, "For [when] it is a ritual for Israel, it is a judgment for the G·d of Jacob" with His people for this.¹

Toldoth Yaakov Yoseph, Tzav #3.

¹When one's service of G·d is no more than rote ritual, one is not really serving G-d, but simply following one's acquired nature. Going beyond one's nature, though, borders on a miracle, as the Baal Shem Tov alludes with the opening statement. But these are miracles that are demanded of us to perform.

Translation and Commentary by Rabbi Yehoshua Starrett and reprinted with the kind permission of the Baal Shem Tov Foundation. Please visit www.baalshemtov.com

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