Thursday, September 17, 2009
Yom Kippur - A Different Day
A Different Day by Rabbi Reuven Boshnack
The Gemara explains that they separate the Kohen Gadol seven days in preparation for one day. The Sefas Emes asks, what is the purpose of all of this preparation just for one day?
The Sefas Emes explains that this one day is the one day year which is a glimpse of the world to come, a day of utter transcendence.
The Sefas Emes cites several examples to explain. The Midrash (Yalkut Vayikra 16:578) says that on this day the Jewish people are enlikened to Malachim. Similarly, the Zohar explains that the Kohen Gadol becomes entirely like a Malach. (Zohar explains the pasuk “no man shall be there when the Kohen Gadol enters the Kodesh Kodashim” to mean that even the Kohen Gadol won’t be a person anymore.)
The Midrashim teach us that on Yom Kippur, Hashem reveals a way of interaction with the world which is above the bounds of nature. This transformation of the world, the Jewish people and the Kohen Gadol are all connected to essence of Teshuva.
Teshuva exists in a state above the normal functioning of world. When a person does Teshuva they go against their nature, and the nature of the world. Things that are the norm are referred to as being from the 7 days of creation. Things that transcend the norm are said to be above the seven days. Yom Kippur is a glimpse of this, which we can see a hint of this in the Pasuk (Tehillim 139:16) says the days were formed and this is none of them, the word “this” can be understood to mean Yom Kippur.
We can see this idea in the Midrash that says in response to the spiritual awakening of Teshuva of the Jewish people, fire from heaven descended to consume the Korbanos. The departure from nature internally was shown externally as well.
This is why the Midrashim say both the Para Adumah and Yom Hakippurim atone for the Egel Hazahav. What properties do the Parah Adumah and Yom Kippur share? The Parah Adumah is above our understanding, as Shlomo Hamelech (Koheles 7:23) said, “I thought I would become wise, but it is far from me.” The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabah 19:3) says this is referring to the Parah Adumah. Even Shlomo, the wisest of men, couldn’t understand the secrets of the Parah.
Now we can understand why the Kohen is separated from everything for seven days before Yom Kippur. The Kohen is separated to show the quality of Yom Kippur, as Teshuva is transcendent from the world, above time and space.
This is the idea that underlies the Midrash (Sifra Acharei Mos 8:10) that Aharon did not wear the Begadim of the Kohen Gadol for his greatness. Is it possible that Aharon Hakohen would become conceited because of expensive clothing? We know that the body is a garment for the soul, but during the Avodah of Yom Kippur, the body of the Kohen became a garment of holiness, like we see in the Piyut Mareh Cohen. If there were any amount of self involvement, then he would remain flesh and blood.
Practical Advice
Master of the world! Now that we have no Beis Hamikdash, help me to enter into the Kodesh Kodashim with myself. As I read about the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur, help me to touch that point of potential, where heaven meets earth, within myself, and emerge, changed and inspired.
Reader's Comments
Dear Reuven,
From your article, it seems that you are well-suited to do the kind of work that you do. Yasher koach!
In case you don’t know who I am, my name is Lisa Aiken, often known as the author of To Be a Jewish Woman and co-author of the Art of Jewish Prayer, plus 8 other Judaica books. I am starting to plan my US speaking tour for mid-Jan.-early Feb. and wondered if you might be interested in booking me to speak. If you would like more info about my background and topics, I would be happy to forward them.
If you know of other organizations who might be interested in my speaking for them, please forward their names and contact into.
Thanks, and Gmar chatima tova,
LisaPosted on 09/24 at 02:11 PM
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