Rosh Hashanah Days 1 and 2 (September 12, 2026)

By Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields

One of the most powerful phrases in the Rosh Hashanah liturgy is “Shema Koleinu” — “Hear our voice.” We ask God not merely to hear our words, but to listen deeply to the voices that emerge from our fear, hope, vulnerability, and longing.

This theme appears in the Torah readings of both days of Rosh Hashanah.

On Day One, we read about Hagar and Ishmael. Hagar finds herself abandoned in the wilderness, with her son’s life in danger. She raises her voice in despair, and God hears the voice of the child. God responds by opening Hagar’s eyes so that she can see a well that was already there. The story teaches us that sometimes the answer to “Shema koleinu” is not that God creates something new, but that God helps us see what has been there all along.

On Day Two, we read the story of the Akedah, the story of the sacrifice (or almost) of Isaac. Abraham hears God’s call and responds, “Hineni — here I am.” Yet the story ultimately asks whether we are capable of hearing another voice: the voice of the angel calling Abraham to stop. Abraham must listen beyond the command he thought he understood.

Together, these readings transform Shema koleinu into a challenge for us. On Rosh Hashanah, we ask God to hear us—but we must also become people who hear. Can we hear the frightened child, the lonely person, the family member whose voice we have stopped noticing? Can we hear when a situation calls us to change direction?

Perhaps the deepest prayer of Rosh Hashanah is therefore reciprocal: God, hear our voices—and teach us to hear Yours, and the voices of those around us.