Rosh Hashanah, lesson 1:

Our Father, our King!

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This Tefilla is said a great deal at this time of year.  It is recited from Rosh Hashanah all the way through to the end of Yom Kippur.  In year 6 we tried to understand the meanings in just this phrase, 'Avinu Malkeinu,' by attempting to represent the words in different ways with the following diagrams.  We discussed each diagram in turn, then addressed the questions below.

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Questions

1.  How can Hashem be both Avinu (our Father) and Malkeinu (our King) at the same time?

2.  Compare this 'Avinu Malkeinu' idea with how your parents are: who is more Avinu, who is more Malkeinu, do they ever switch their roles, etc.

3.  Which of these diagrams best represents how Hashem has both aspects to His Nature?

4.  Could each of the diagrams above represent a different time of the year?

5.  Which of these diagrams do we most want to be the case?

6.  Rosh Chodesh Ellul begins a period known as 'Yemei Ratzon' - days of Hashem's favour, during which time Hashem is particularly willing to accept our Teshuvah and be close to us.  Which of the diagrams above do you think best represents the notion of Yemei Ratzon? 

7.  When do you think the circles in the different diagrams would move together or apart?

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Chagim