Aleynu is one of the most recognized of all Jewish prayers. We use it to conclude each of our services, morning, noon, and night. But it wasn’t originally written for such general use. Instead, it was written for a particular purpose and therein lies a tale.
On Rosh Hashanah, the most distinctive and unique feature of the liturgy is the structure of the musaf Amidah. After the first three blessings of praise, found in every Amidah, there is an elaborate three-part celebration of three divine qualities: Divine kingship (malchuyot); Divine remembrance of G-d’s relationship with the Jewish people (zichronot); and Divine revelation in its many and varied manifestations (shofarot). Each of these sections contains verses that exemplify the Divine qualities in question; and each of those sections has a liturgical introduction.
Aleynu, in its original setting, serves as the introduction to the Divine kingship (malchuyot) section. That serves to underscore the significance of the pivotal line in the prayer, “vanachnu korim…” “We prostrate ourselves and bow and kneel in thanksgiving before the King of the King of Kings.” Normally, we give concrete expression to this sentiment by bending our knees and bowing. On the High Holy Days, on the other hand it is customary to actually prostrate ourselves, and touch our heads to the ground. (Please note: the Rabbi and the Cantor do this, but there are some congregants that participate as well—it’s a very powerful experience, believe me, so I recommend it).
Recognizing the King of the King of Kings is obviously consistent with the theme of the malchuyot section. But a careful examination of the placement of this phrase deepens its meaning. The first part of aleynu talks about our obligation to praise and exalt our King. But after bowing, etc., the theme shifts from us to the world. We pray: “Therefore we place our hope in You…That we may speedily witness Your glorious might as idols are eradicated from the earth…Every knee must bow to You. Every tongue vow loyalty…For the kingship is Yours and You will reign in glory forever.”
Seen as a whole, Aleynu is a prayer that places tremendous obligation upon us. Whatever our hopes for the world, we cannot expect anything positive to happen unless it happens with us, first. This is, to be sure, Jewish chutzpah at its finest, placing ourselves in the middle of what our Christian colleagues would refer to as “the Divine economy”.
Get used to it. It’s just what we do. On Rosh Hashanah, first of all, but on every other day of the year as well.
Rabbi Robert L. Wolkoff