B"H
Wednesday, Tishrei 5, 5784 / September 20, 2023
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins Sunday night.It is the only fast day mentioned in the Torah. All other fast days in the Hebrew calendar are Rabbinical requirements.
All other fast days are to commemorate a tragic event which happened throughout history to our people. However, Yom Kippur, while being a holiday and a happy day, is also a fast day. In fact, on other holidays one is prohibited from fasting, while Yom Kippur is an exception, when we are required to fast.
On Yom Kippur the special YIZKOR prayer is recited. YIZKOR is said four times during the year:On Passover, Shavuot, Shmini Atzeret and on YOM KIPPUR.
Yizkormeans to REMEMBER. In this special prayer we remember our loved ones who passed away and whose souls are bound up in the bond of eternal life in Heaven. Yizkor connects us with our loved ones who have passed on. By remembering them, they too remember us at this time of the year.
Our sages tell us that it’s not enough just to remember them in our minds and with our words. We have to remember them with good deeds. The purpose of the Yizkor prayer is to remember them through the performance of the mitzvah of Tzedakah-charity, which we donate in their memory. In the Yizkor prayer we mention their names and also specifythat charity was given, or will be given, in their memory.
Our parents, while they were alive, cared for us unconditionally. There was nothing too difficult for them to do for us. But now that they are not here physically, it is we who can do for them what they cannot do for themselves. Mitzvot can only be performed in this world. Every mitzvah and good deed we do in their honor brings merit to their souls. This is especially true when we give charity in their memory and in their honor. It brings them merit and reward in the World-to-Come.
Yizkor is our way of saying to our parents who are in heaven, “I love you. I miss you. I remember you.” It is our way of expressing our connection to them by donating to charity in their memory. Our parents and loved ones in heaven feel our love and connection. They in turn, intercede on our behalf on high. They pray for us and shower us with blessings.
The Yizkor prayer is our 3,000-year gold-chain link with our past generations. It gets longer and longer as time passes, but also gets stronger and stronger with time. Our loved ones who are deceased did their part, now it’s up to us to do ours.
Q. In each of the Yom Kippur prayers, the "Vidui - confession" is said. The confession is said in the plural, "We have sinned...We have transgressed..." etc. Why is it recited in the plural, not in the singular, “I have sinned,” etc.?
A. Our rabbis explain that as Jews we are not only responsible for our own deeds, but for our fellow Jew as well. If another Jew transgresses, we are all partly responsible. Thus, we confess and ask forgiveness not only for our sins, but also for others who sinned.
GMAR CHATIMA TOVA – A VERY GOOD, SWEET, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR.