I scheduled by annual physical for the morning of Erev Yom Kippur. I certainly wish that I had thought to do that because I wanted to take care of my physical judgement day to parallel my my spiritual one, but it just happened to fit into my schedule. Ah well; maybe next time I'll have better kavanos.
There are two questions that arise every year; one on the front end of Yom Kippur, and one on that back. On the morning before Yom Kippur -- after almost two weeks of סליחות/extra prayers specifically targeted at arousing the Creator's trait of mercy (as opposed to strict justice) -- we end with just a whimper of a prayer; abbreviated service and not even a token תחנון. On the back end -- after 25 hours of prayer, supplication, and fasting; raising ourselves to the level of completely spiritual beings -- we drop immediately into our weekday evening prayers, which includes a plea for forgiveness of our sins; hang on.... didn't we just achieve complete forgiveness and atonement?!
Before answering that, we need to really understand what Yom Kippur is and what it means to gain atonement. Rosh HaShanah is known as יום הדין/Day of Judgement, so Yom Kippur is not about being judged. What, then, is Yom Kippur? Yom Kippur is our annual inventory and continuing education in performing our job in this world. We say the וידוי/confessional 10 times -- five times privately, five times publicly. Five times privately is our personal inventory. Five times publicly to proclaim that we re-align ourselves with the mission statement given us by the Creator.
Given that, our questions on entry to and exit from Yom Kippur are answered. Annual inventory and continuing education are critical to the success of any large and complex endeavor. On the other hand, you have entered this campaign for a purpose; not to train and do inventory. During inventory and training, the business needs to be closed; the execution of the campaign put on hold. What do you do? You minimize all inessential activities before the shut down. After all, the workers need to prepare in order to most efficiently use that time. Once you are back at work, though, it is business as usual immediately. In fact, the boss expects renewed vigor and heightened productivity afterwards.
That ma'ariv at the conclusion of Yom Kippur should be the most important and sincere ma'ariv of the year. That קריאת שמע should have the most intensity of intention and depth of feeling after 25 hours of deep introspection and review. That plea for forgiveness in shmone esrei reflects the most clarity of purpose for the entire year.
Yom Kippur is exhausting. I cannot say that I look forward to it as I look forward to Shabbos and Yom Tov. I can say, though, that I feel energized and motivated to make this the best year yet!
There are two questions that arise every year; one on the front end of Yom Kippur, and one on that back. On the morning before Yom Kippur -- after almost two weeks of סליחות/extra prayers specifically targeted at arousing the Creator's trait of mercy (as opposed to strict justice) -- we end with just a whimper of a prayer; abbreviated service and not even a token תחנון. On the back end -- after 25 hours of prayer, supplication, and fasting; raising ourselves to the level of completely spiritual beings -- we drop immediately into our weekday evening prayers, which includes a plea for forgiveness of our sins; hang on.... didn't we just achieve complete forgiveness and atonement?!
Before answering that, we need to really understand what Yom Kippur is and what it means to gain atonement. Rosh HaShanah is known as יום הדין/Day of Judgement, so Yom Kippur is not about being judged. What, then, is Yom Kippur? Yom Kippur is our annual inventory and continuing education in performing our job in this world. We say the וידוי/confessional 10 times -- five times privately, five times publicly. Five times privately is our personal inventory. Five times publicly to proclaim that we re-align ourselves with the mission statement given us by the Creator.
Given that, our questions on entry to and exit from Yom Kippur are answered. Annual inventory and continuing education are critical to the success of any large and complex endeavor. On the other hand, you have entered this campaign for a purpose; not to train and do inventory. During inventory and training, the business needs to be closed; the execution of the campaign put on hold. What do you do? You minimize all inessential activities before the shut down. After all, the workers need to prepare in order to most efficiently use that time. Once you are back at work, though, it is business as usual immediately. In fact, the boss expects renewed vigor and heightened productivity afterwards.
That ma'ariv at the conclusion of Yom Kippur should be the most important and sincere ma'ariv of the year. That קריאת שמע should have the most intensity of intention and depth of feeling after 25 hours of deep introspection and review. That plea for forgiveness in shmone esrei reflects the most clarity of purpose for the entire year.
Yom Kippur is exhausting. I cannot say that I look forward to it as I look forward to Shabbos and Yom Tov. I can say, though, that I feel energized and motivated to make this the best year yet!
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