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Yom Kippur This Shabbat is called Shabbat Tshuva (repentance) because it falls in the 'Ten Days of Repentance': the two days of Rosh HaShanna, one day of Yom HaKippurim and the seven days in between them. On this Shabbat we also read the final warning of Moses to the Jews, which is strangely called a 'Song' (31:19, 22, 30). At first glance all this is not understood. How can there be special days of 'repentance'? What about the people that didn't sin, what are they supposed to do in these days? And aren't the two days of Rosh HaShanna sufficient for those that did sin? Why eight more? Even more; one of those days is the "Day of Atonement" which AUTOMATICALLY brings forgiveness. If so why do we need the previous nine days? And finally what has this got to do with the reproof of Haazinu and why is it called a 'song'? To understand all this here are two Baal Shem Tov stories: Rabbi Michel of Zlatachov was a great and learned Rabbi who was fluent in not only the Talmud and all it's commentaries but also with all the esoteric teachings as well. People would come from far and near to ask his advice or opinion on every conceivable matter and they were never disappointed. It so happened that once one of the citizens of Zlatachov came to him to confess a sin. He had set out on a short journey early one Friday morning with plenty of time to make it to his destination before Shabbat. But the wagon broke down several times and before he knew it he was still in the thick of the forest far from his goal and it was getting dark. At first he considered just spending the Holy day in the woods (after all it is forbidden by the Torah to drive the wagon on Shabbat) but when it got dark and the wolves and freezing wind began to howl he changed his mind. He decided that his life was in danger and urged the horses as fast as possible despite the Shabbat. Now he was weeping, awaiting Rav Michel's verdict. As he expected Rav Michel explained to him the seriousness of the crime, prescribed a series of severe fasts and mortifications according to various books of Kaballa and bade him farewell. But a few days later this fellow heard that
the teacher of Rav Michel; the
Baal Shem Tov (Besh't for short) was visiting a nearby town and
he went to He pleaded with the Besh't for an easier 'repentance'; he simply wasn't strong enough to follow Rab Michel's demanding prescription. The Besh't heard him out and saw that the man's heart was really broken and his body truly frail. "Good, instead of all those fasts you must supply the candles each Shabbat for your local synagogue until I tell you to stop." When the word got back to Rabbi Michel that the Besh't had negated his decision he felt awful. Perhaps he had made a mistake? But where? He checked and rechecked all his sources and it was just as he said. He couldn't understand the Besht's decision and that made him feel all the worse. Could the great master be wrong? No! that was impossible! But the Baal Shem, although twenty miles away, sensed Rabbi Michel's confusion and to console him he sent him a special messenger to invite him to be his guest for the Shabbat; truly a rare sign of affection from the master! Rav Michel began his morning prayers at the crack of dawn and set off early Friday morning but something went wrong. The wagon driver somehow got hopelessly lost and wandered aimlessly for hours until .. Sunset. Without hesitation the Rabbi got off the carriage and began walking in the dark as fast as possible to the town of the Baal Shem that could be seen miles away, despite the Shabbat. When he entered the house the Besh't was just about to make Kiddush but when he saw Rav Michel distraught, dusty and exhausted from his tribulation he put down his Kiddush cup and said "A person like you that never did a sin in his life can never know the pain and broken heart of a Jew who he realizes he has done a sin. In fact, that very broken heart is what erases the sin. >From now on you'll know how to correct someone that transgresses the Holy Shabbat." This explains one reason why even the completely righteous have to do Tshuva; in order to come to love their fellow man. Here is the second story. The custom was in those days some three hundred years ago that great Torah orators would travel from city to city and speak to the Jews. This often was a major event causing all of the Jews in town to pack into the local synagogue to listen. In general these orators would spellbind the crowds with emotion-packed interpretations of Biblical passages. But most often, especially before the 'High Holidays' of Rosh HaShanna and Yom HaKippur the speeches would often spill over into frightening detailed descriptions of Hell and purgatory that await sinners. Tonight was such a night. The well lit synagogue was packed and all eyes were glued on the Rabbi standing high on the stage. He had them all but hypnotized with his clear speech. But he was speaking differently than he planned. Instead of building up the tension and chastising them for their evil ways he found himself expounding another idea. How wonderful it is to learn Torah and how the Torah enables us to feel the holiness of Shabbat. The Shabbat, in turn, brings one to feel the Joy of the Holidays, and the highest of the Holidays is Rosh HaShanna which is only a preparation for Yom Kippur. And Yom Kippur is the gateway to repentance. Each idea he explained and developed with brilliant stories and explanations until it was obvious that he had brought the crowd to a higher level. Many began to weep in joy, others in contrition. When he finished the people dried their eyes, shook his hand and filed out of the synagogue and as soon as he was alone he went to the bookshelf, took out a Talmud and sat down to learn. But he hadn't noticed that that one Jew remained behind until he heard a joyous tune from behind him. When the song finished, the Rabbi turned around and said 'Shalom Alechem'. The man introduced himself as the Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem and began another happy song. 'Why are you so happy? What is the cause of the celebration?" The Rabbi asked. "I'm happy because you just brought a lot of people to do Tshuva!" Was the reply. "Yes, I suppose you are right" he answered. I suppose that is a reason to be happy." "So let us dance!" said the Besh't as he began his lively song again. The Rabbi stood and each took the other's hand and began to dance, around and around, faster and faster until they were completely out of breath. They shook hands warmly and the Besh't departed. [Incidentally that Rabbi, whose name was Rabbi Katzenelboigen, later became a famous Rabbi in Brisk and this episode so impressed him that he refused to sign on the excommunication that his fellow Mitnagdim later issued against the Chassidim.] The next afternoon the Baal Shem Tov again appeared in the Synagogue but this time there were only ten Talmudic Scholars there; Jews who sat the entire day, every day, and learned Gemora. Again he stood behind them, as he did to the Rabbi the previous night, but this time he didn't sing. he wept. "What are you crying for?" They eventually turned around and asked him. "I'm crying for you." He answered. "Why weren't you here last night to hear the speaker?" That caught them by surprise. They avoided the speaker because of their haughtiness; they couldn't bear to hear unflattering words. They began squirming in their seats. "I'll tell you why" he continued."because you are a bunch of egotists, that's why! You spend all your time learning the Holy Torah and it only inflates you. You learn Torah but forget about the Giver of the Torah! And that is what I'm crying about." His holy words hit the bulls-eye. At once
their eyes filled with tears and
they began to weep brokenheartedly. Suddenly all they wanted to
know was
how to correct their coarse souls. Two of them even became his devoted This story shows three other facets of 'tshuva'. 'Tshuva' brought the simple, humble people in the Synagogue to learn more Torah. It brought the Torah Scholars to become more simple and humble. And it caused the Orator to add joy into his Judaism. This is also the message of Haazinu; although it is a reproof it also contains the opposite.. Song. Like the Besht's definition of Tshuva that today is saving Judaism. Tshuva means not only reproof but the opposite: to 'return' to the source of the soul (like the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur) and renew all its ten facets (see the third chapter of the Tanya for details). Then wisdom, understanding, joy, humility, love, fear will all be increased at once like a joyous song. Therefore we need TEN days of Tshuva. And this is the ONLY way to fulfill what the Lubavitcher Rebbe said so often: 'We need only open our eyes and see Moshiach NOW!" Rabbi Tuvia Bolton Torah Online Website: www.ohrtmimim.org/torah * * * This Shabbat, Shabbat Tshuva, we prepare ourselves for the Holiest day of the year, Yom HaKipurim; The day that G-d not only forgives all who return to Him as He does the entire year, but also inspires everyone to return. This week's Torah Section reminds us that the Jewish people are a very unique nation. WE are a portion of G-d and don't need intermediaries like the other nations. (32:9) Yes, every Jew can connect directly to G-d. In fact the very name Yisroel implies straight (Yis'r) to G-d (E-l). It is therefore a bit strange when we read that in the days of the Temple the Cohen Godol (Great Priest) prayed for the entire Jewish nation in the Holy of Holies while they just stood outside the Temple the entire day and waited. What place does this have in Judaism? Why was there ever such a thing? Why didn't everyone just pray for themselves? Even more; today when we do pray ourselves on Yom Kippur we beseech G-d to rebuild the Temple so the Priest can do it for us again! To understand this here are two stories. This story appears in the book Shemen Sason (2:43) by Rabbi S.B.Volpe. When Rabbi Shabtai Slovtetzki (now the head Lubavitch Shaliach in Antwerp) learned in Yeshiva Kol Torah in Jeruselam over twenty five years ago, there was one pupil there that would continually ridicule the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Once the head of the yeshiva, the famous Rabbi Shomo Zalman Auerbach heard about this, and it pained him greatly. He took the young man aside and told him the following story, which the pupil later related to the entire yeshiva. Late one winter night, when the rest of the house was asleep, a simple woman came to visit my father, Rabbi Chiam Leib who was also a great Rabbi and leader. She was hysterically weeping and it was difficult to bear her obvious anguish. "Rabbi, Rabbi, help me, help me please!" she wailed. Only you can tell me what to do!!" My father made her sit down and as soon as she did she calmed down a bit and continued. "My daughter is in the hospital giving birth but there are complications. Complications! Oy Rabbi! The doctors say that her life is in danger and they must operate immediately. But I am afraid. Rabbi, I have a feeling that if they operate ….. ooy Rabbi help me! Tell me what to do!" I remember how my father looked at the poor woman's beseeching eyes and I could see the mercy welling up in him. He thought deeply for a minute and suddenly said, "It will be all right!" He paused a moment and continued "You have nothing to be afraid of, just trust in HaShem! There is no need for any operation!" "Ohhh! Thank you Rabbi! Thank You!!´ She said as she stood and hurriedly backed out of his door, semi bowing. "Ohhh thank you!" She was gone. My father sat there deep in thought for some five or ten minutes. Suddenly he bolted out of his seat, ran out of the house, into the street and looked feverishly in all directions. But it was too late, she was gone. And she had left no traces, not even her last name or which hospital her daughter was at. There was absolutely no way of contacting her. "What have I done?" He mumbled to himself as he returned. "How could I have been so sure? What made me do it?!" He returned home, woke up the rest of the family and told us all to say Palms the entire night. Believe me I never saw my father so distressed. He wept and kept repeating. "How could I tell her to risk her daughter's life? Perhaps the doctors are right. Oyy!" Early the next morning there was a knock on our door. My father ran to answer it and there was the woman again, but this time with a smile on her face. Of course my father was overjoyed. "Am I happy to see you!" He exclaimed excitedly. "Tell me, how is your daughter? How was the birth? From the smile on your face I see we have good news! Thank G-d!!" "It's a boy, Rabbi! The operation was unnecessary just as you said, thank you Rabbi! I don't know how to thank you! You saved my daughter's life!!" Rabbi Shlomo Zalman had finished his story. He looked deeply at his young pupil and concluded, "Just think; my father was a very great man, a holy Tzadik and a gaon (genius) but when he took the responsibility for just one woman it was almost too much for him to bear. "While the 'Lubavitcher' does that for hundreds of people every day! And he's been doing it for years! I can't imagine what an immense soul he must have. Why, he's taken the responsibility for the entire Jewish people! "How can you possibly speak against such a man?" The second story is about another Torah giant. Rabbi Yosef Ruzin, or as he is better known The Rogachaver Gaon (the genius of Rogachav) who passed away some seventy years ago in Russia was a true phenomenon of Torah genius and erudition. His books are deep Torah questions and long lists of book references and page numbers where the answers can be found. Although he knew all the Talmudic tractates with all their commentaries by heart, nevertheless he literally never stopped leaning Torah. His diligence was so outstanding that the great Ohr S'meach, Rabbi Mair Simcha of Divinsk, once said of him that you can't say he has a good memory because there is no aspect of Torah that he has not recently repeated. And the Lubavitcher Rebbe said that his mind was easily five times that of Albert Einstein's. But despite the Rogachover's greatness, he was devoted to the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe and considered himself one of the Rebbe's followers. He often would invite the students of the Lubavitcher Yeshiva to eat at his home on the Sabbath and engage them in conversation. Once he asked them an interesting question; "Can anyone here tell me what a 'Rebbe' is; not a Rabbi or a scholar or a Tzadik (holy Jew) but a Rebbe? They gave a few answers which he considered until they finally asked him what HE thought a Rebbe is. He thought for a few seconds and replied: "What a Rebbe is …. No one can possible understand. But one thing I know; if a Jew, any Jew, even a Jew on the other side of the world moans in pain……. The Rebbe feels it." This answers our question. Every generation needs a 'Cohen Godol'; a Jew that worries for the welfare of ALL the Jews in the world (even those that oppose him). In some generations it was the king, in others it was a prophet, some it was a combination of all three, but without at least one such person, the Jews are like a flock without a shepherd. But as vital as this is we see that the Jews have trouble with this idea. They rebelled against Moses, later against David, later against all the prophets. The Jews wanted to be on their own, without any Great Priests or leaders intervening for them and eventually G-d complied; He destroyed the Holy Temple so they would SEEM to be alone. This is the topic of this week's section; G-d is reproving the Jews for despising true leaders (see the end of last week's section) and reminding them that, in fact, G-d has not left them although it may seems so. And this is the preparation for Yom Kippur. In Yom Kippur we beg HaShem to forgive us for our mistakes rebuild the Temple and bring back the 'Cohen Godol'. In other words all the prayers of Yom Kippur are only that HaShem should send us Moshiach, (only he will rebuild the Temple) a true leader that worries for and feels the pain of all the Jewish people, and that we should obey him as we should have done to the prophets. Then, and ONLY then, will be fulfilled what
we request in our prayers: "Gather the scattered Jews from
among the nations, from the corners of the Moshiach Now! Rabbi Tuvia Bolton Torah Online Site: http://www.ohrtmimim.org/torah * * * In another few hours it would be Yom Kippur and still no sign of the Rav of the town. Rav Mordechi was a Chassid of the third Rebbe of Chabad (Rabbi Menachem Mendel nicknamed the Tzemach Tzedek 1789 - 1866). The Rebbe sent him several months ago to wander the countryside of Russia from town to town, and inspire the Jews scattered there with the ideas of the Baal Shem Tov called "Chassidut", and up to now he had succeeded very well. But yesterday he arrived at some town in the middle of nowhere, only to hear that all its Jews, about one hundred all together, had left the day before to the city of Vitebsk to pray in the Grand Synagogue there on Yom Kippur. ("Day of Forgiveness". (In the days of the Temple it was the only time that the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies.) Suddenly he found himself stuck only a few hours away from the holiest day of the year, without a minyan (Jews always try to pray in groups of ten, called a "minyan"). "You won't find any Jews here, Rabbi" one of the townspeople told him. "But about two hours away there's a small village of Cantonists. They're a strange bunch, but that's the closest thing to Jews you'll find around here now". [The Cantonists were Jews that had been "snatched" by the Government from their families when they were young children, and endured years of torture in the Czar's army, rather than leaving their Judaism. The few that survived were so emotionally and psychologically destroyed when they left the army years later, that they were never able to live normal lives. So they lived together in little villages, separated from the rest of the world.] Immediately Rav Mordechi started walking,
but after over an hour he still saw nothing. No...Wait! There seemed
to be something on the Sure enough, there it was! There were only a few old wooden houses, but this must be the village he was looking for. The first resident that saw that the Rabbi enter the village called everyone else, and in no time they were all lined up with shining faces, taking turns shaking the newcomer's hand. They were overjoyed! Such an honor to have a real Rabbi as their guest! Suddenly they stepped back, formed a sort
of huddle, and began whispering to one another. Then they fell silent,
looked again at the "Excuse me Rabbi, but we would be very honored if his majesty the Rabbi would please honor us with leading the prayers of Yom Kippur". All the others stood staring at the Rabbi with wide pleading eyes shaking their heads beseechingly yes. Rav Mordechi nodded in agreement, and the joyous hand shaking ritual was repeated once again. "We only have one request" The man continued - "that one of us leads the last prayer of the holiday, N'eela". An hour later they were all seated in the solemn atmosphere of Yom Kippur in their little Shul (synagogue) listening to the beautiful heartfelt prayers of Rav Mordechi, the Chassid of the Tzemach Tzedik. Rav Mordechi felt something special was happening; he had never quite experienced a Yom Kippur like this. He had never been in such a minyan; each one of them had been through hell, things that he could never even dream of experiencing, only for the sake of HaShem. And although he knew all the books and they knew nothing, somehow he felt dwarfed by these simple people. His soul flowed into the prayers, and it seemed to him that he had never sung so beautifully in his life. First Kol Nidre, then the evening prayer, then the following day he prayed the other three prayers, and even read from the Torah both times. But finally at the end of the day came their turn; it was time for N'eela. Rav Mordechi stepped back, took a seat in the small Shul with everyone else, and waited to see what was going to happen. Why did they want this prayer especially? One of the Cantonists rose from his chair, took a few steps forward and stood at the podium, his back to the crowd. Suddenly, before he began to lead the prayers, he started unbuttoning and then removing his shirt. Rav Mordechi was about to say something, to protest; you can't take your shirt off in the Synagogue! But as the shirt fell from the man's shoulders, it revealed hundreds of scars; years upon years of deep scars....each one because the man refused to leave the G-d of Israel. Rav Mordechi gasped and tears ran from his eyes. The Cantonist then raised his hands to G-d and said in a loud voice. "G-d...Send us Moshiach! Redeem the Jewish people now! I'm not asking for the sake of our families, because we don't have any families. I'm not asking for the sake of our futures, because we have no futures. I'm not asking for the sake of our livelihoods or our comfort, or our children, or our reputations, because we don't have any of those things either. We're just asking that you should... "Asay L'maan Shemechaw" - Do it for the sake of Your Great Name. And then he put on his shirt and began the prayer. That is what we are asking for this Day of Forgiveness: "G-d! The world has suffered enough. Just send us Moshaich because You are good." We want Moshiach NOW! Rabbi Tuvia Bolton |
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Shabbat
Shuva and Yom Kippur
In the time of the Holy Temple, Yom Kippur was centered on one man; the Cohen Gadol. He alone entered the Holy of Holies and did all the work while the rest of the Jewish people spent the entire day waiting outside of the Bait HaMikdosh for him to finish. To understand this, let' s first understand
what 'Tshuva' means. This The Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic
movement, began a great Since the source of every Jew is pure Gdliness
(The Torah calls them 'Sons of Gd') and G-D is unlimited (i.e. infinitely
real and good), therefore Repentance, said the Baal Shem, is for sinners.
But everyone, even the But this idea, which is today the foundation
of the 'Tshuva movement', met To understand all this here is a story. The
city of Vilna two hundred But as great as they were in scholarship
so they were adamant in their One of the richest and most influential scholars in Vilna was named Reb Mair Refoels, and here is how he ironically became a devoted follower of that very Rebbe: It was late one rainy night when a knock
was heard at Reb Mair's door. When his wife opened the door, they
were surprised to see standing before them a woman, wet, ragged
and tired from an obviously long harrowing journey. "Is this
the house of Rabbi Mair Refoels?" She shouted over the noise
of the rain. When Reb Mair's wife nodded yes, she entered saying,
"The Holy Rebbe of Chabad, Rav Shneur Zalman told me to come
to Rab Mair Refoels and that he will find my husband." "Who is this woman?! What does she want?
What husband?!" His wife took the woman into the kitchen gave
her a warm bowl of soup and heard the following explanation: Her
husband ran away three years ago without giving her a bill of divorce
('get') and now according to the Torah she was an 'Aguna' and could
never remarry until she gets a proper divorce. "So now, here I am", she announced, "And I'm not leaving until Rab Mair does what the Rebbe said." The next day the city was abuzz with this
latest antic of the 'crazy Chabad Needless to say, she made Reb Meir's life
unbearable. But after a few weeks he found her a room to live in,
and the whole matter was almost forgotten. Needless to say Rav Mair began to change
his mind about the Rebbe, but he kept it to himself, lest he be
accused of heresy. It happened that two rich businessmen in
Vilna had been falsely accused of cheating on their Tax returns.
They had been sentenced, first by a lower They were desperate; they knew that only a miracle that would save them and that is why they were willing to listen when a guest passing through Vilna suggested that the Rebbe of Chabad could help. Like drowning men grasping for straws, they decided to ask Reb Refoels for his opinion, and to their surprise Reb Refoels told them to go to the Rebbe, but not to tell anyone of the trip. After an arduous journey of several days,
there they were, standing before So they poured their hearts out, and when
they finished they were both The Rebbe paid no more attention to them.
The meeting was over!! They Meanwhile, the two accused men decided on a desperate plan. They heard that in Petersburg there was a special royal garden reserved for the leisure of only the Czar and his ministers. They would travel to Petersburg; sneak into this garden and try to intercept the minister of Justice there, hoping against all hope that they could arouse his mercy. They caught the first train, and a day later
they had succeeded in finding They had to enter and hide there while it
was still night and wait several They cried and wept. "What is this?!" Said the Minister
with a smile on his face, "Innocent? Ahh. Our heroes were just about to begin crying
again when the Minister They again nodded saying "We will try our best." "Excellent! Then we will begin. The
Czar heard that it is written in your The two partners looked at each other in amazement! This was what the Rebbe had forseen! When they repeated the answer of the Rebbe, at first the Minister was quiet, but slowly a large grin appeared on his face. "I know the Czar." He said, "He
is really going to like this answer! He After Rab Mair heard this, both he and the two businessmen decided to begin learning the teachings (Chassidut) of the Rebbe and eventually they all became Chabad Chassidim. This explains the work of the Cohen Gadol.
In every generation there is at May this Yom Kippur we all see the Rebbe come out of the Holy of Holies and announce that the Jewish People have all been connected to their source. Wishing everyone a Good Shabbos, and well over the fast Tuvia Boloton |
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