Weekly Parsha

The Torah tells us that G‑d created all His creatures en masse—in flocks, herds, packs, or as numerous scattered individuals. Only man was created singular, one of a kind. The sages of the Talmud find a lesson in this: that every person is an entire world. One person lost is an entire world lost. One person saved is an entire world saved. 

If you save yourself from things that separate you from G-d, and live according to His precepts, then you have (saved) a place in the world to come!

King Solomon, in a prophetic vision given by G-d said:  One day we will no longer have our king (Throne of David), nor the land (Israel), the city (Jerusalem), nor will we retain the holy temple (Beit Hamikdash) for the sacrifice of Yom Kippur ... 

What if I repent, how can I be free of the burden of my sins?

How can I have my name written and sealed in the book of life?

How do I know I have a place in the world to come?

Hosea 14: 2-3

Return, O Israel, to the Lord your G-d, for you have stumbled in your iniquity. Take words with yourselves and return to the Lord. Say, "You shall forgive all iniquity and teach us [the] good [way], and let us render [for] bulls [the offering of] our lips.
 

1 Kings 8: 46-50

If they sin against You, for (there is) no man who does not sin, and You will be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, and their captors will carry them away captive to the land of the enemy, far or near.  And you shall hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven, Your dwelling place, and maintain their cause. And forgive Your people what they have sinned against You, and all their transgressions that they have transgressed against You, and give mercy before their captors, that they may have mercy on them.

That is why when we pray we turn to the throne of King David (G-d's promise) in the city of Jerusalem (Israel) then we do Teshuvah (repentance) through our Tefilah (prayer) and through Tzedakah (acts of justice) we are able to proof to G-d that we are  now a rightous person (Tzadik).

Returning to G-d's plan, as a holy people, a nation elected to be light to the world and an example of life (according to His precepts) for the nations! This is called Tikkun (correcting/improving) Middot (our character/service).  Everyday we must always strive to correct our faults and improve our character. 

As we stand on the threshold of Yom Kippur, I am reminded of an old saying:

If Augustus were to rise from the grave today and call out in Old Latin, he would be met with silence, for there is no one around to understand. But if Moses were to appear and exclaim "Shalom Aleichem!" a chorus of voices would respond with the traditional " Aleichem Shalom!

The Jewish people, in spite of all natural indications and in defiance of the laws of statistics, have outlived the once-mighty empires that set out to destroy them. And not only have they survived, they have flourished, achieving the impossible.

So what's that got to do with the High Holidays? Everything. 

The history of the chosen people teaches us when it comes to "Jewish Life" (a life with G-d) there is no such thing as probability, possibility, or chance. The laws of nature do not bind us.  

That is the message Yom Kippur: "governments come and go, fashion is always on the move, but the Jewish people and the Word of G-d aren't a culture, style or fashion"

The grass shall dry out, the blossom shall wilt, but the word of our God shall last forever.  (Yeshayahu) Isaiah Chapter 40:8

Who is like You oh Father of Compassion, Who remembers His creatures for life with compassion. Psalm 103:13

Wishing you a easy fast and a meaningful Yom Kippur!

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Click HERE to learn about Yom Kippur

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I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my dear readers, and their families, and all of Klal Yisroel, a כתיבה וחתימה טובה

May the New Year ahead be filled with genuine closeness to Hashem, the long-awaited footsteps of Mashiach and the elevation of all of Am Yisrael to a Yom SheKulo Shabbat!

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The wise man seizes the opportunity to do mitzvot" (King Solomon). The lazy person says -- someday I'll do it.

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