Yom Kippur

 Yom Kippur

 

The traditional reading for Yom Kippur comes from a parasha we read just a few weeks ago, Acharei Mot, which focused on the details of the Yom Kippur sacrifices. In the afternoon reading, we traditionally read about prohibited marriages and sexual behaviors, perhaps because the afternoon of Yom Kippur in ancient times was an occasion for the arrangement or marriages. More importantly to me, the afternoon service includes the reading of the Book of Jonah.

            As Nahum Sarna is quoted in Mosaic (9/22/15), Jonah captures four key elements of Yom Kippur:

(1)  Sin. The sins referred to are the pagans of Nineveh (or perhaps Jonah himself, whose sin may be reluctantly accepting his prophetic role). Sin is primarily a moral matter.

(2)  Divine Judgement. God executes divine judgement against the sinners, and humans are responsible and accountable for sin.

(3)  Repentance. The people of Nineveh repent, and the severe decree is averted. Repentance does not arise from the recitation of formulas but by the transformation of character, both by the people of Nineveh and by Jonah himself.

(4)  God is a compassionate Judge. The emphasis of the book is that all life is important to God, be they Jews, pagans, or even cattle. God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness.

These are the essential of Judaism, and the fundamental building blocks of Yom Kippur.

           

One final thought. This year, Yom Kippur follows soon after the yahrzeits of those killed last October by the murderous Hamas foes. As we chant unitanef tokef, we might pause and think about the phrase “who shall live and who shall die.” Many have died, be they Israelis, Palestinians, soldiers, terrorists, or even the innocent. On the other hand, miraculous recoveries have happened during the past year, and many of us can look ahead with hope of life in the year to come.

May we all be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Peace and Life in this coming year. Ken yehi ratzon.

 Ha’azinu

Deut. 32:1-52

 

Précis: The parasha, the shortest in the Five Books, containing only 52 verses, begins with the “Song of Moses,” a hymn sung by Moses within sight of the Promised Land. The song contrasts God’s fidelity with the faithlessness of the People, and the need of the People to learn from their history under God’s care. Moses predicts that Israel’s enemies will be overcome. He is told to climb a mountain to see the Promised Land he will not enter, as he prepares for his death. This is the last parasha read on Shabbat in the annual cycle: the final parasha (V’zot Habracha) is read traditionally on Simchat Torah.

 

This year, we read this parasha on Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath of Repentance (or Return) which comes between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The opening verses of this poem are filled with an emotion which we do not normally associate with the Days of Awe: gratitude. Moses thanks God for providing everything, for creating the Jewish People, for saving them through the wilderness, and giving them the Land of Israel.

As pointed out by Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman, (Torah of Character, 9/20/24), there are several inhibitors to gratitude. We don’t want to feel indebted, and we are slow to acknowledge our dependence on others. Envy can create dissatisfaction with one’s own lot, making it hard to appreciate the blessings we have. Finally, Schiffman states, “Arrogance is the most pernicious trait that obstructs gratitude” because it creates a sense of entitlement. We are often so caught up in the tasks of daily life that we fail to appreciate the blessings we have.
            This year, with the horrors we witnessed last October, with Israel at war on three fronts, with antisemitism on the rise in America and around the world, and with the fate of the American experiment seemingly at stake, it is perhaps one of the most difficult times to feel gratitude.

              Nevertheless, finding the ability to be grateful for the blessings we do have is certainly part of t’shuvah. We awaken each morning and tradition tells us to say the Modeh ani prayer: I offer thanks to You, God, for You have restored my soul within me. Gratitude may be an acknowledgement that some of us have survived serious illness. Gratitude may be found in the acts of compassion and service we can undertake every day. Gratitude can be found in long-enduring friendships and in consolation in times of difficulty. Gratitude can be found in the love one feels for one’s soul-mate.

We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year. But we can be grateful for the blessings we have right now, this moment, this second: the love of others, and those blessings that God has provided. May God provide all of us with the blessing of gratitude in the year to come.