Let’s face it, the thought of Yom Kippur gives us a certain pit in our stomach. It’s not only the prospect of the hungry feeling that we’ll experience during the course of the day, it actually comes from our built in spiritual DNA that intuitively knows that Yom Kippur is a sacred day.
Recently, in the Daf Yomi cycle, the Talmud cited the great Rebbe Meir, who brings proof from various verses in Tanach – scripture ― that convey that G-d considers each and everyone one of us His children, even if one committed the gravest sin. As a loving Father, G-d eagerly waits for each of us, no matter how far we have strayed, to regret our misdeeds and return to Him. The ten days of repentance, and naturally Yom Kippur itself, are auspicious days when we can make this happen.
A great way to explain how Yom Kippur works is with the following illustration. When observing a large building project, we may notice a crane lifting steel beams weighing many tons and raising them to the desired level. Then the stationed workers maneuver the beams to their proper location and they are then lowered and set into place.
What’s incredible is that before the beam was raised, it was humanly impossible to budge, yet once it is raised off the ground it can be easily moved and guided by a person or two.
During the course of the year, we may feel that it is impossible to change or move from our set ways or habits, like the beams that are set on the ground. However, during the time between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur we are placed in an ‘uplifted’ state because G-d is extremely close to us and mercifully provided these days for us to wipe our slate clean and begin refreshed and spiritually energized.
The apex of this closeness to G-d is on Yom Kippur. On Yom Kippur we are akin to angels and we are raised to a higher level of spirituality. Just as angels don’t eat, drink or cohabit, so too, we refrain from such activity on Yom Kippur. We change our footwear from leather to non-leather. Of course, our feet are on the ground but our footwear is different and we sense a change in our maneuverability.
In a sense we are buoyed into a higher sphere on Yom Kippur. This uplifted feeling, similar to the raised beam, lends itself to more easily make movements in deepening our relationship with G-d, His Torah and Mitzvos. It also allows us to strengthen our bond with our family and friends and consider being more patient with those who we may find difficult to put up with.
We may say to ourselves, who is kidding who, it is so overwhelming to make a total overhaul to our lives. How do we expect to accomplish and take on a renewed existence to last after Yom Kippur?
At one of the Rosh Hashana meals, I shared with my family a phenomenal idea that I came across from Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer o.b.m. In the hallowed Holy-day prayer of Nesanah Tokef which describes the format of the Heavenly judgement, it states we each pass like, Bnei Moroin – members of the flock. The Talmud wonders what Moroin refers to. Reish Lakish explains that it refers to the narrow steps leading up the Mountain called Moroin.
Says Reb Isser Zalman, when one looks at the Mount Moroim, he will notice some people at the top of the mountain and some people just getting onto the steps of the mountain. As time passes, he will notice that some who were once at the top of the mountain are heading down the steps and those on the bottom of the mountain are heading up the steps.
How does one recognize who is heading up and who is heading down the mountain? One has to only look at which direction they are facing. If the person is facing the descent of the of mountain stairs he is going down, if he is facing the incline he is going up and will eventually reach the top.
Reb Isser Zalman proposed that the same can be applied to one’s spiritual state. One may be on the higher spiritual levels of the ‘mountain’ yet if he is facing the descending path, it indicates the unfortunate direction he is heading. However, one who is at the foot of the spiritual mountain, yet he is facing it and has his eyes set at scaling the mountain, he shows that he is rising and has the potential to continue step by step.
On Yom Kippur, all will agree that our thoughts are directed towards the ascent and we will ultimately reach our goal!
