VOLUME 107 NUMBER 10
Tishrei 7, 5784
September 22, 2023
SPECIAL YOM KIPPUR EDITION
Candlelighting Time 6:39 PM
We are in the midst of preparing for the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur. From Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, known as the 10 Days of Repentance, we are intensely engaged in rectifying our deeds and this process will culminate on Yom Kippur, especially the last service, Neilah. We beseech Hashem to forgive us for our sins and petition that we should merit exoneration for a year of misconduct and ignoring Hashem’s will! We are aware that Hashem in His infinite mercy ‘desires’ that we obtain the status of those destined to enjoy another year. However, it is important to understand the process involved so that we will appreciate the kindness bestowed upon us.
One of the most significant themes that we utilize is the 13 attributes of compassion. Although we may not be deserving of Hashem’s empathy due to our many transgressions, nonetheless, the Talmud explains that Hashem overlooks our iniquities. Although this omission is not perpetual, it does have limits, nonetheless there is such a mode of supervision granting a degree of leniency. This incredible kindness that Hashem displays is based upon the characteristic of Hashem that He is a source of sympathy and compassion beyond our ability to fathom. As we know, Hashem is infinite and therefore all that Hashem does for us on a constant, ongoing basis is therefore infinite. To fully grasp that Hashem condones this tolerance is well beyond our constrained and feeble intellect. However, this is the profound depth of Hashem’s chesed.
This extraordinary patience is based upon the tenet that, in general, we have the ability to repent and thereby embrace that chesed. Ramchal clarifies that the exceptional gift of repentance provides us with the opportunity to reset our approach to life. Our previous mistakes after we repent are considered erased from our record book and we can literally renew our lives and begin again with renewed vigor and enthusiasm. Our change of attitude is considered as a disruption of our previous defiance and that course adjustment seeks to absolve us of that unfortunate misdeed when we sincerely dedicate ourselves to serve Hashem properly.
The chesed of Hashem persists and is augmented with this concept that Hashem in His infinite understanding of our deficiencies yet supports our genuine yearning to come closer to Him and ‘waives’ on a partial basis our veering off the beaten path thereby guiding us to pursue modification of our wrongdoings. This certainly exhibits Hashem’s heartfelt devotion for us and spurs us on to reach even greater heights in our service to Hashem.
As we draw every closer to Yom Kippur with the intervening Shabbos before it is vital and urgently required that we attempt to reach out and alter our ways. We should spend more time on Shabbos studying, upgrade our Shabbos meals infusing more spirituality into their content, make strides in our relationship with our family and friends and realize that we are subject to Hashem’s ongoing kindness and respect that we must indeed make headstrong effort to increase our dedication and commitment to Torah and mitzvos.
A BYTE FOR SHABBOS AND YOM KIPPUR
Even repenting in a moderate fashion demotes our most critical transgressions and reduces them thereby allowing the day of Yom Kippur itself to delete them.
S’FAS EMES
GOOD SHABBOS AND GOOD YOM TOV
MAY WE ALL BE INSCRIBED IN THE BOOK OF LIFE AND ENJOY ONGOING GOOD HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS
