Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel's Son Skips a Verse
Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel's son, chosen as chazzan for his fine voice, stops before the Rosh Chodesh verses of Mussaf on Rosh Hashanah, and explains why.
Rabban Shimon Ben Gamliel had a son who had a nice voice and was chosen to be the chazzan on Rosh Hashana. He was reciting Mussaf out loud and was about to recite the verses relating to the Mussaf of Rosh Chodesh when he stopped. He later explained his rationale: The Korban Mussaf of Rosh Chodesh is brought to atone for Hashem, and it is inappropriate that it should be brought to atone for us. This is in line with the Gemara in Chullin (60b) that states that the Korban Mussaf is an atonement for Hashem for making the moon smaller. When the moon complained that there shouldn’t be two simultaneous kings, the sun and the moon, Hashem directed that the moon become smaller. The moon had complaints against Hashem, and Hashem commanded that the Korban Mussaf of Rosh Chodesh be brought to atone for Him.