The haftara of Rosh Hashana relates the story of Hannah and the birth of Shmuel. Sarah, Rachel and Hannah were all infertile, and according to the midrash they all had babies on Rosh Hashana. They all made the ultimate sacrifice for a greater cause. The secret of merit on Rosh Hashana is giving up personal dreams and aspirations for the ultimate goal of serving God.
The secret of Hannah being remembered lies in the immense sacrifice and concession that she made when she promised the child to God.
Let us try to imagine the situation: After years of distress, her entire being revolving around her fertility problems, she being wrapped in constant misery owing to her barrenness – something unbelievable will happen and she will give birth to a son. But rather than raise him, she will hand him over to God. The most precious and important thing that she had waited for all those years will finally come, but she will not enjoy bringing him up, but rather she will give him as a gift to the Mishkan.
Instead of getting up every morning and sending her boy off to school and waiting for him when he comes home in the afternoon, instead of filling his plate at the Shabbat table, and instead of going out to shop with him and buy his first pair of shoes and outfit him for summer and winter, she will consciously and from the outset give up on all these things for the sake of God's name. The answer to all her troubles and all of Penina's provocations will arrive, but she will not reap the benefits.
Is there self-sacrifice greater than this? This, however, is precisely what Hannah does! She promises God that if she has a child she will dedicate him to heaven. By the merit of this self-sacrifice, she will merit to give birth to Shmuel and those who will come after him. It is difficult to grasp the enormity of her actions and we stand dumbfounded by them – not only did she have a rival in her own house, but she was ready to give up her long-awaited son. Our hearts and souls are amazed by Hannah's sacrifice!