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Crying On Rosh Hashana

Written by Benjamin A Rose

The Arizal said whoever does not cry during the Yomim Noraim his Neshama is not good or complete. It is brought down in the name of the Shela that someone whose hard heart does not allow tears to flow naturally should make sounds as if he is crying. Of course he must do so with a broken heart and not just making funny noises with no feeling whatsoever. His proof for this is that the posuk that says “Ki Shama Hashem Kol Bichyi” Hashem heard the sound of my cries. (Piskei Teshuva OC 584:2)

However, It is written in the Maaseh Rav that the Vilna Gaon said that one is not permitted to cry on Rosh HaShana. Th Vilna gaon gets this from the pasuk in Nechemia that says “Al Tisablu V’Al Tivku…L’Chu Ichlu Masmanim”; Do not mourn and do not cry… go eat good food. Rosh HaShana is a day of happiness and celebration. Are the Vilna Gaon and the Ari arguing?

Rav Moshe Shternbuch in his teshuvos (2:268) says that they do not argue.

The Vilna Gaon is talking about crying from the fear of Yom HaDin and having the overall mindset that Rosh HaShana is a day of gloom and doom. However if the tears come automatically from inspiration and longing for Hashem during tefilla not only is it permissible it is praised.

Outside of tefilla the mood of the day must be happiness and celebration of the Yom Tov.

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