Now, satisfaction and pleasure are aroused Above from the Jews’ fulfillment of G‑d’s will throughout the year.וְהִנֵּה הַנַּחַת רוּחַ וְהַתַּעֲנוּג דִּלְמַעְלָה מִזֶּה שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה רְצוֹנִי הוּא בְּכָל הַשָּׁנָה,
Rosh HaShanah is, however, unique. On it, the Divine pleasure aroused by the commitment of kabbalas ol associated with the sounding of the shofar receives unique focus, for sounding the shofar is the fundamental mitzvah of the day.אֶלָּא שֶׁבְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה הוּא עִקַּר מִצְוַת הַיּוֹם וכו',
The peaks reached on Rosh HaShanah are dependent on the nature of the Divine service of the Jewish people – and G‑d’s satisfaction that is aroused thereby – over the course of the entire year.וְהָעִלּוּי שֶׁבְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה הוּא לְפִי אוֹפֶן הָעֲבוֹדָה וְהַנַּחַת רוּחַ שֶׁעַל יְדֵי זֶה בְּמֶשֶׁךְ כָּל הַשָּׁנָה.
When the Jewish people increase (their Divine service and, as a result) the satisfaction they arouse on high over the course of the entire year,דִּכְשֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל מוֹסִיפִים (בַּעֲבוֹדָתָם, וּבְמֵילָא) בְּהַנַּחַת רוּחַ בְּמֶשֶׁךְ כָּל הַשָּׁנָה,
the Divine pleasure resulting from the fulfilment of His will on Rosh HaShanah is also increased.נִתּוֹסֵף גַּם בְּהַנַּחַת רוּחַ מִזֶּה שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה רְצוֹנִי בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה.
It can be assumed that each and every Jew accomplished everything expected of him in the previous year, forוּמִכֵּיוָן שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד וְאַחַת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל פָּעַל בְּוַדַּאי בַּשָּׁנָה שֶׁעָבְרָה כָּל הָעִנְיָנִים,
the prevailing assumption (chazakah) is that every Jew is virtuous1 – andכָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּחֶזְקַת כַּשְׁרוּת הֵם,
the concept of chazakah is a powerful pillar within Torah Law.2דְּעִנְיַן הַחֲזָקָה הוּא עַמּוּד חָזָק בַּתּוֹרָה,
In particular, this is true after the Divine service of the month of Elul,וּבִפְרָט לְאַחֲרֵי הָעֲבוֹדָה דְּחֹדֶשׁ אֱלוּל,
and, in Elul itself, after Chai Elul (the 18th of Elul),וּבֶאֱלוּל גּוּפָא לְאַחֲרֵי חַ"י אֱלוּל
which introduces vitality into all matters of the month of Elul,3שֶׁמַּכְנִיס חַיּוּת בְּכָל הָעִנְיָנִים דְּחֹדֶשׁ אֱלוּל
[in addition to being the radiant day on which the two great luminaries, the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe, were born].4 Thus, Chai Elul has two dimensions: the influence generated by the fact that it is the birthday of “the two luminaries,” and the influence it introduces into the Divine service of Elul.[נוֹסָף לָזֶה שֶׁהוּא יוֹם הַבָּהִיר שֶׁבּוֹ נוֹלְדוּ שְׁנֵי הַמְּאוֹרוֹת הַגְּדוֹלִים],
Thus, at this time, the chazakah regarding the virtuous nature of every Jew is even more powerful.שֶׁאָז הַחֶזְקַת כַּשְׁרוּת דְּכָל אֶחָד וְאַחַת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל הִיא בְּיֶתֶר שְׂאֵת וְיֶתֶר עֹז,
From day to day (in the days from Chai Elul onward), the virtuous nature of every Jew progressively grows and shines forth.וּמִיּוֹם לְיוֹם (בְּהַיָּמִים שֶׁמֵּחַ"י אֱלוּל וָאֵילָךְ) הַכַּשְׁרוּת דְּכָל אֶחָד וְאַחַת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל הִיא בְּאוֹפֶן דְּהוֹלֵךְ וּמוֹסִיף וְאוֹר,
This is particularly true during the days when Selichos are recited.וּבִפְרָט בִּימֵי הַסְּלִיחוֹת,
It is thus evident that at this time, “You are standing today,”5הֲרֵי בָּרוּר שֶׁאַתֶּם נִצָּבִים הַיּוֹם כֻּלְּכֶם,
as is written in the Torah portion that was read this Shabbos from which “all the days [of the coming week] are blessed.”6כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּהַסֶּדְרָה שֶׁקָּרְאוּ בַּשַּׁבָּת דְּמִנֵּי' מִתְבָּרְכִין כֻּלְּהוּ יוֹמִין,
The interpretation of this verse given by the Baal Shem Tov is well known.7וּכְפֵרוּשׁ הַבַּעַל-שֵׁם-טוֹב
“Today” refers to Rosh HaShanah,8 “the Day of Judgment.”דְּהַיּוֹם קָאֵי עַל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה שֶׁהוּא יוֹם הַדִּין,
And “you” (i.e., every member of the Jewish people, all together)וְאַתֶּם (כָּל אֶחָד וְאַחַת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, כֻּלְּכֶם)
are “standing,” i.e., your merit will be upheld and stand strong; you will emerge victorious in judgment.נִצָּבִים קַיָּמִים וְעוֹמְדִים שֶׁזּוֹכִים בַּדִּין,
This (i.e., the Jews’ victory in judgment) is already evident on the eve of Rosh HaShanah.דְּעִנְיָן זֶה (הַזְּכִיָּה בַּדִּין) יֵשׁ כְּבָר בְּעֶרֶב רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה,
Therefore, it is Jewish custom9 to wear white clothes and wrap oneself in white clothes on the eve of Rosh HaShanah in anticipation of a positive judgment.שֶׁלָּכֵן בְּעֶרֶב רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לוֹבְשִׁים לְבָנִים וּמִתְעַטְּפִים לְבָנִים וכו',
And we proceed with happiness, indeed great happiness,10 to coronate the King on Rosh HaShanah,וְהוֹלְכִים בְּשִׂמְחָה, וּבְשִׂמְחָה גְדוֹלָה, לְהַכְתִּיר אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה,
for on the eve of Rosh HaShanah, all the necessary preparations have already been completed,כִּי כְבָר בְּעֶרֶב רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה יֶשְׁנָם כָּל הַהֲכָנוֹת הַדְּרוּשׁוֹת,
for happiness breaks through all barriers.11דְּשִׂמְחָה פּוֹרֶצֶת כָּל הַגְּדָרִים.
This will also serve as preparation, so that shortly thereafter, “The one who breaks through, [i.e., Mashiach,]12 will ascend before us,”וְזֶה נַעֲשֶׂה גַּם הֲכָנָה קְרוֹבָה לְיַעֲלֶה הַפּוֹרֵץ לְפָנֵינוּ בְּקָרוֹב מַמָּשׁ,
and the good and sweet year for which the Jewish people will all be inscribed and sealed will include and highlight the fact that the year will be a year of redemption,שֶׁבְּהַכְּתִיבָה וַחֲתִימָה טוֹבָה לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה יִהְיֶה וְיֻכְלַל וְיֻדְגַּשׁ שֶׁהַשָּׁנָה תִּהְיֶה שְׁנַת גְּאֻלָּה,
indeed, the true and ultimate Redemption, led by our righteous Mashiach.גְּאֻלָּה הָאֲמִתִּית וְהַשְּׁלֵמָה עַל יְדֵי מְשִׁיחַ צִדְקֵנוּ,
May “The one who breaks through ascend before us,”יַעֲלֶה הַפּוֹרֵץ לְפָנֵינוּ,
speedily, in our days.וּבִמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ מַמָּשׁ.

Summary

The Jews’ Divine service on Rosh HaShanah and the pleasure Above aroused thereby is enhanced by their Divine service over the course of the preceding year. Since there is a prevailing assumption (chazakah) that every Jew is virtuous, it can be assumed that every Jew accomplished everything expected of him in the previous year. This is particularly true after the Jew’s preparatory Divine service before Rosh HaShanah, beginning in the month of Elul. Hence, the Jews can be assured of a positive judgment on Rosh HaShanah and can confidently and joyously accept G‑d’s sovereignty, bringing a year of blessing, including the ultimate blessing, the coming of Mashiach.