Subject: In Memory of Shmuel Leib ben Zvi (Lewis Berkin) & Baruch Yitzchak ben Yirmiryahu (Barry Pessin) |
From: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com> |
Date: 9/22/2023, 9:08 AM |
To: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com> |
BCC: menachem@alonsystems.com |
This Sunday night we will celebrate the holiest day of the year Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. This is a time when our repentance "is easily accepted" and in the words of the Ramchal when Hashem comes to purify the world. It is a time to reflect and see how we can personally improve ourselves, and we recite the Viduy confession prayer as well as part of this repentance.
There are two interesting things about the Viduy. It lists many different transgressions which we ask forgiveness for and in many cases these may be transgressions which we have never even committed. We also recite the Viduy in the plural.
It is important for us to understand though that in the words of the Ramchal Hashem comes to purify the world and the entire nation. We are not repenting for ourselves only we are repenting for every Jewish person who may have gone astray. We are praying that the entire nation should be purified, refreshed and return to G-d. If we only focus on ourselves we miss the bigger picture and a deeper understanding of the entire day. Each year we move forward as a nation one step closer to the final redemption may it arrive speedily in our days.
Shabbat Shalom - Gemar Chasima Tova
Heath