| In light of all the turmoil and challenges we have all experienced over the last two and a half years, the trepidation and anticipation of the Yomim Nora'im that are fast approaching, is as intense as ever.
We have learned how everything we have been taught, that nobody is guaranteed anything based on last year's results, and cannot be counted on as automatic, is really true. Whether it is health, parnasah, or life itself , anything can be turned on its head in an instant through so many ways.
Inasmuch as we tremble out of fear of judgement, we also relish our opportunity to have an audience with Avinu Malkeinu and plead our case to keep us in His good favor.
It is quite remarkable how people in England stood in lines up to three miles long, just for an opportunity to bid farewell to their queen, knowing full well that she can do nothing for them anymore. How much more so are we willing to spend hours in shul, with our King who is described at the end of U'nesaneh Tokef as "Melech Chai V'kayam", with an open ear and welcoming heart, as it were, to grant us life and sustenance.
We are told that the Vilna Gaon was particularly b'simcha during the blowing of the shofar, our way of coronating the King once again, despite the overriding spirit of the midas hadin of Rosh Hashanah. It is indeed an opportunity not to be squandered. We are in the king's chamber, as the gemara likens the time of shofar to standing in the very Kodesh Hakadoshim.
Rav Meir Chodosh zt"l related how he met an individual who had been present at the coronation of Czar Nikolai II and shared his experience with the great tzaddik. He described how the crown which was soon to adorn the czar's head, was taken out of a box by one dignitary, and then handed over to yet another one, and another one as well, until finally the last person was honored with placing the crown on the ruler's head. It was a breathtaking sight, leaving everyone present in total awe and reverence.
Rav Chodosh commented that every single one of us are given that honor , as the closing line of the piyut in Chazaras Hashatz beginning with the words"V'ye'esayu kol l'avdecha" says, "V'yitnu lecha kesser melucha", we give You Hashem, the crown of royalty. Can any one of us imagine being asked to perform such a duty for a human king? Yet, we crown the King of the World despite our weakness and humility. We are indeed very prominent and extremely fortunate to have that privilege. And this privilege comes with the perk of entering Hashem's inner chamber and pouring our heart for whatever we need.
Of course this all comes with one caveat, or catch. That is our acceptance of Hashem's kingdom ,not only over the world at large, but more significantly, over our individual selves. We must commit to due His bidding, fullfilling His mitzvos, and comporting ourselves like the princes and noblemen we truly are.
Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai would refer to his colleague Rabi Chanina Ben Dosa as a servant before the king, as opposed to himself, whom he termed a sar, an officer. It was because of this, that Rabi Chanina's tefilos were more readily accepted. One explanation is that due to Rabi Chanina's legendary poverty, his humility was extraordinary, thus making his davening that much more effective. Rabi Yochanan Ben Zakai on the other hand was the nasi of the nation and lived in comparative luxury, as the people had an obligation to treat him as his position required.
We are all "dalim v'rashim", destitute and impoverished, as the Selichos describes us. For all we know, we really do have nothing, for nobody knows what tomorrow brings.
Let us use this opportunity as we meet up with our King once again, acknowledging our true dependence on Him for everything, and committing ourselves to be true servants, as we daven for ourselves and the entire world for a shnas geula v'yeshua. Rabbi Henoch Plotnik | 
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