Imagine standing in court, awaiting sentencing for a crime you’ve committed.

Fear grips you—until you look up and see that the judge is your own father. Relief and hope flood your heart, for you know he loves you and will show you mercy.

This is the experience we have on Rosh Hashanah.

As the Beis Aharon said, “We have a compassionate Father. When we do teshuvah, Hashem forgives us. You need not fear.”

On this holy day, we stand before our Father, not with fear, but with trust in His boundless love and mercy.