When Rosh Hashanah Falls on Shabbat and Israel Is Made New

Perhaps. Rabbi Yochanan and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish were puzzling over a difficulty. We have learned: a festival day of Rosh Hashanah that falls on Shabbat, in the Temple they would sound the shofar, but not in the provinces. They said: if it is a matter of Torah law, let it override Shabbat even in the provinces; and if it is not a matter of Torah law, then even in the Temple it should not override Shabbat. While they were still sitting and puzzling, Kahana passed by. They said: here comes the master of this teaching; let us rise and ask him. They rose and asked him. He said to them: one verse says, "It shall be a day of sounding the horn for you" (Numbers 29:1), and another verse says, "It shall be a remembrance of sounding the horn for you" (Leviticus 23:24). How shall these two verses be upheld together? When it falls on a weekday, "a day of sounding the horn for you"; and when it falls on Shabbat, "a remembrance of sounding the horn for you" -- they make mention of it but do not sound it. Rabbi Zeira used to instruct his colleagues: go in and listen to the voice of Rabbi Levi as he expounds, for it is not possible that he conclude a section without teaching. They went in, and he expounded before them: one verse says, "It shall be a day of sounding the horn for you," and another verse says, "a remembrance of sounding the horn" -- how shall these two verses be upheld together? When it falls on a weekday, "a day of sounding the horn for you"; and when it falls on Shabbat, "a remembrance of sounding the horn" -- they make mention but do not sound. Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai taught: let it override in the Temple, where they know the set time of the month, and let it not override in a place where they do not know the set time of the month. Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai taught: "It shall be a day of sounding the horn for you, and you shall offer" (Numbers 29:1-2) -- in the place where the offerings are brought near. Rabbi Tachlifa of Caesarea said: regarding all the offerings it is written "and you shall bring near" (Numbers 28:19, 27), but here it is written "and you shall make" (Numbers 29:2). The Holy One said: since you have entered before Me in judgment on this day and have come out acquitted, I account it for you as if you were made anew this day, as if this day I created you a new creation -- "For as the new heavens and the new earth" (Isaiah 66:22). Concluded.