The Crown

Perhaps we can explain the crown as follows:

The head is the seat of intellect. A crown sits above the head.

Belief, pleasure, and willpower are (like a crown) higher than intellect.

When we know something, we don’t need to believe in it; it’s when we are trying to connect to something that we don’t know, that we need belief.

Pleasure influences the will. We want to do things that provide enjoyment.

Intellect and emotions work within the body, in ways that we readily grasp and feel. Willpower, however, interacts in an encompassing manner; it influences what we do, but in a way that we don’t quite grasp. Our willpower is somewhat beyond us, while at the same time affecting and moving us. Intellect and emotions are more “invested” and perceived, while willpower is somewhat detached, yet directly impacts the whole body. When you want to move your hand, for example, your willpower acts in an instantaneous (rather than a “contemplated”) manner.

Chassidus explains, that “keser” — crown, is composed of three parts. In a person (who is made in G-d’s image), the highest part is belief, then enjoyment, then willpower. In G-dliness, keser is composed of “the head that is not known” (which, in a person, corresponds to the level of belief); then “old of days” (which is the inner part of keser, and is the level of pleasure — as G-d says (when we obey His commands), “It brought Me ‘nachas ruach’ (perhaps roughly translated as ‘pleasure’) for I commanded and My will was fulfilled;” and the lower (or outer) part of keser is composed of “rotzoin” — G-d’s will as reflected in His Mitzvot — commandments.

When we accept G-d’s Kingship, as symbolized by the crowning, we unite our beings, including the levels of our soul that are manifested in our keser, with G-d.

The love between a parent and a child is higher than reason. It’s an intrinsic love, because they are essentially one. G-d is our King, but He is also our Father. On Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year) we say “Ovinu Malkeinu” — our Father our King, “ein lonu Melech elo Oto” — we have no other King but You. Even as we accept Him as our King, we express the love of our essential bond, as His children.

We accept His Kingship with awe. And we express our love as only a child can.

And as we blow the shofar, a simple sound of longing, we awaken within ourselves a longing to be united with our Father, our King, in Jerusalem, with Moshiach. And the entire world will recognize His Kingdom, for “G-d will be King over the whole world; on that day G-d will be One, and His Name will be One.” (Zakaraiah 14; 9)

May it happen now.