This coming week is a big one, it's the last and first of the year. Wednesday evening at sundown Rosh Hashanah begins, marking the beginning of the New Year, 5771. Celebrated for two days, through Friday evening when Shabbos begins, Rosh Hashanah is the anniversary of G-d's creation of mankind, the birthday of humanity.

We have one special mitzvah this week, to blow the shofar (or at least to hear it blown) on each day of Rosh Hashanah. 30 shofar blasts are sounded, including tekiyah, shevarim and teruah, ultimately adding up to 100 total blasts. The Talmud says that we blow a ram's horn to recall the Binding of Isaac, an act of tremendous dedication to G-d's will. In the final moment, a ram was given as an offering to G-d in place of Isaac himself.

Through our dedication to G-d's will, may 5771 be the year in which the Mashiach brings peace to us all. Happy New Year!