God Is Love, Not Punishment—The King Judging Is Still Our Father | Rosh Hashanah

Is red really the color of an apple? Once you open up the apple, it's pure white, right? And it's sweet. So, what's the message? What's the secret of the apple that we dip in honey for some or we dip in sugar for others? So, here's the message that I took out from this wonderful beautiful red apple that is not really red, it's just hiding under a red jacket, but it's pure white. Cabalistically, red is judgment, harsh, strict judgment and punishment. And we know that on Rosh Hashanah, God sits in the throne of His kingship. He's king that it's all about Him being the king and deciding who will live and who will perish. Who will have a lot and who will starve? Who will suffer tsunamis? It's all in God's hands and we we shake and we even say in our prayers this unbelievable awe and fear and dread because we are facing the the the melech ha'olam that that's judging the world. And that is scary. And that's what the red apple represents. It is the red strict judgment, scary wrath of God that we can face in judgment, which we don't want to face. However, that's what our apple looks like from far away. But as soon as you get closer to the apple and you open up the apple, >> [clears throat] >> and when we're speaking now about God, and you get to know God, you get you get you get to understand what's the the the inner essence of God, it's pure love, pure mercy, unconditional love and mercy that is just forever. And so, that's the beautiful message of the apple and why we start our Rosh Hashanah off with an apple. Because we know it seems scary to be judged by the king of the world. He knows all of our secrets. He knows everything we've done. And And he's judging and he's punishing. But But But God's also this pure loving father that just loves us to death. I mean, death's not a good word to use on Rosh Hashanah, but loves us so so much. And all he wants to do is be good to us. What kind of good? The good that just is so obviously good that doesn't have to be explained as good. We know everything's for the best. We want the best. We want the simple good that a 5-year-old understands. And that's the message. Hashem just loves you and wants to be good to you forever. And that's all he wants to do. And this red external is just to help you find the real good true love that he really wants to give you. And therefore, we're happy. Yes, we'll be judged. Yes, there's an aspect of God's kingship in that judgment. But the father never leaves. Just because he's acting as king doesn't mean he stops acting as father. So, he's a father and king at the same time. So, he's got a serious face on. But you can get him to smile. Like you Imagine your dad's the king. He was like, "Today's judgment day and everybody better be careful." And you're like, "Dad, come on. What's with this act?" He's like, "You're right, son." What? HE'S OUR FATHER. WHAT IS WHAT ARE WE SO AFRAID OF HIM? We should be serious. We should appreciate what we have and and value it because it comes from such an important glorious king, Hashem himself. But scared, shaking in our boots? I don't even have boots. We should We We should be so [laughter] happy that we know that Hashem is Hashem is with us, for us. And that's it.