Subject: In Memory of Baruch Yitzchak ben Yirmiyahu (Barry Pessin)
From: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
Date: 9/29/2017, 4:00 AM
To: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
BCC: menachem@alonsystems.com
In preparation for Yom Kippur the holiest day of the year, I heard a shiur from R' Elimelech Bidernan who quoted the Kli Yakar one of the commentaries on the Torah. The Torah tells us that the High Priest enters the Holy of Holies during the Yom Kippur service to offer up an incense offering. This is the only time in the year that anyone enters the Holy of Holies. The Torah introduces this though by saying that "not at all time(s)" can the Kohen Gadol enter the holy of holies. The Kli Yakar asks though why it is stated that not at all times can he enter, he can only enter once a year. Saying that not at all times he can enter, insinuates that there are other times when he can enter as well, when we know this is not the case.
The Kli Yakar explains that the Torah is telling us that "not at all times" means "not at all, during time". The day of Yom Kippur transcends time so it is only on this day that he can enter, a day in which there is not time.
The holy day approaching us is above our physical world and realm and reaches into a spiritual realm which transcends time and physicality. It is through this awesome spiritual influence that we can be purified from our sins and all the wickedness of that past year. What do we need to do though to tap into this power? Obviously by fasting and withholding from everything else that is forbidden on this day helps us to elevate ourselves from our physical beings onto a higher level. But we also need to reflect and look to change any of our sinful ways, ask G-d to forgive us so we can in fact attain purification.
May we all be sealed in the book of life for a prosperous, happy and healthy New Year, in which we merit our final redemption.
May these words be a refuah shelaima for Moshe ben Tehilla.
