HA’AZINU / YOM KIPPUR

This week’s Dispatch must cover extra ground as this coming Shabbat we read Parshat Ha’azinu and then 24 hours following the conclusion of Shabbat we go into the “Shabbat Shabbaton” – Yom Kippur. Therefore this week’s Dispatch will have a bit of both.

Haazinu a very short parsha, is essentially a poetic discourse, and frankly, due to its poetic style is truly one of the more difficult portions of the Torah to properly understand. In this last sermon, Moshe invokes the heavens and the earth to serve as witnesses to his charge to the Jewish people to faithfully observe the Torah after their entry to the land of Israel. Upon conclusion of this last sermon, Moshe was told to ascend Mt. Nebo to prepare for his death and burial, prior to which, he was permitted to gaze at the entire Promised Land.

Double Dvar Torah – Mixing Ha’azinu and Yom Kippur:

A verse in our parsha states: "The Rock - His acts are perfect, all of His Ways are just!" The Chofetz Chaim once asked someone about how things were going for him. "It wouldn't hurt if things were a bit better," the man replied. "How can you possibly know that it wouldn't hurt?" replied the Chofetz Chaim. "Hashem knows better than you. He is merciful and compassionate. If He felt it would be good for you for things to be better, He definitely would have made them better. Certainly things are good for you the way there are." Related to Yom Kippur – let us all daven for the good things we need this year while having faith that if things don’t turn out exactly the way we asked – then maybe, just maybe Hashem knows better, what our needs truly are.


CUSTOMS OF EREV YOM KIPPUR

Remember! The day before Yom Kippur is considered to be a quasi-festival day. "All who eat on the ninth are considered to have fasted on the ninth AND the tenth." It is a mitzvah to eat and drink your heart out on Erev Yom Kippur!! This both gives us strength for the fast and substitutes for the usual Yom Tov meals, which cannot be eaten on Yom Kippur because of the fast.

It is customary to increase in tzedaka Erev Yom Kippur as charity helps to repeal any evil decrees.

Sins committed against another person cannot be atoned for until one has first sought forgiveness from the person he/she has wronged. Even the great day of Yom Kippur or death cannot atone for sins against fellow man!

MEN- It is a mitzvah to immerse oneself in a mikvah (ritual bath) on Erev Yom Kippur.

Kaparot - An ancient and mystical custom usually performed by swinging a chicken around your head is designed to imbue people with a feeling that their very lives are at stake as the holy Yom Kippur approaches.

It is customary to wear white on Yom Kippur. This is symbolic of the angels and of spiritual purity. Many married men wear a kitel, which is also worn upon burial (and by many men at their wedding) as a reminder of the day of death and repentance.

Though not usually worn at night - the talit (prayer shawl) is worn for Kol Nidre, is kept on for the entire evening service, and is left unfolded at the synagogue to be adorned again the next morning.

DID YOU KNOW?

A confession, seemingly inappropriately placed, is recited at mincha prior to Yom Kippur during the silent Amidah. The reason: In case a person should choke and die during his pre-Yom Kippur meal, he will have least said one confession!

A Word on “The Five Afflictions”

On Yom Kippur, we are required to abstain from five forms of physical pleasure: (1) eating and drinking; (2) washing and bathing; (3) applying oils or lotions; (4) wearing shoes containing leather; and (5) marital relations.

The five afflictions correspond to the five books of the Torah (which we accept without being deterred by our physical pleasures); to the five senses (with which we keep the commandments or, G-d forbid, commit transgressions); to the five times that the term nefesh (soul) is mentioned in the Yom Kippur Torah reading; to the five immersions of the Kohein Gadol (High Priest) on Yom Kippur; and to the five services ordained for Yom Kippur (Maariv, Shacharit, Mussaf, Minchah and Ne’ilah) -From The Book of Our Heritage