Awakening Before Yom Kippur: A Message of Teshuvah, Hope, and Unity

Le'ilui nishmas Rav Shlomo ben Rav Yitzchak, z”l May his neshama have an aliyah, and may we all merit a gmar chasimah tovah, a year of yeshuos, refu'os, and protection for our soldiers, our hostages, and all of Klal Yisrael.

Gmar chasimah tovah to all my dear sisters,

Today marks the yahrzeit of my beloved husband, and before we go to the bais oilam, I wanted to share some divrei Torah and words of chizuk—spiritual nourishment as we approach the holiest day of the year: Yom Kippur.

The Day Hashem Draws Close to His Children

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year, when we refrain from food, drink, and physical comforts—not out of deprivation, but because we are elevated. Like malachim, we dress in white and stand in tefillah before Hashem.

Chazal teach that on this day, Hashem says to the malachim, "I don’t need you today—I want to be with My children.” We are gifted with 25 hours of profound closeness with the Ribono Shel Olam, and our tefillos take the place of angelic song.

“Like an Eagle Stirring Its Nest…” – A Wake-Up Call

In Parashas Ha’azinu, we read a beautiful metaphor: Hashem is compared to an eagle hovering over its nest. Just as the eagle gently stirs its young awake, Hashem has been “shaking the branches” since Rosh Chodesh Elul—through the blowing of the shofar, the selichos, and the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah.

He’s sending us a message: Wake up. I’m coming close. Will you reach out to Me?

This is not a passive process. Hashem will only pick us up if we awaken and show we are ready to return. It’s in our hands.

“Mah Lecha Nirdam?” – Don’t Sleep Through the Storm

Why do we read Sefer Yonah on Yom Kippur afternoon? One reason is the moment when Yonah is sleeping while the ship is being tossed in a storm, and they cry out: “Mah lecha nirdam?!” – Why are you sleeping?!

The same cry is relevant for us. Don’t sleep through Yom Kippur. Don’t be indifferent. Don’t let this holy day pass like any other. Now is the time to plead, to reflect, to reconnect.

Yom Kippur: Unity, Renewal, and Joy

My father, z”l, would always remind us: Yom Kippur is the day we received the second Luchos—a sign of renewed connection after failure. It’s a day of Kabbalas HaTorah and achdus, when Klal Yisrael stood “k’ish echad b’lev echad.”

On one hand, we stand in awe before Hashem. On the other, we are filled with simchah, knowing that Hashem offers us a new beginning. Kappara means our past mistakes are not just covered—they are transformed. We emerge as renewed people, with clean slates and open hearts.

The Gift of Teshuvah

What is Teshuvah? It’s not just moving toward Hashem—it’s also a return to ourselves.

Throughout the year, we may become spiritually distant, passive, or overwhelmed. Teshuvah invites us to come back—to analyze, reflect, and take responsibility. It is a divine gift, not logically explainable, and yet entirely real.

Chazal say, “Modeh ve’ozev yerucham”— if we acknowledge and abandon our mistakes, Hashem has mercy. Unlike human justice systems, admission in front of Hashem is not punished—it is rewarded with forgiveness.

The Avodah of the Kohen Gadol: Entering the Holiest Space

Only once a year could the Kohen Gadol enter the Kodesh HaKodashim, representing the entire nation. He would offer incense and a brief, powerful tefillah: that Klal Yisrael should be protected and blessed with parnassah and peace.

He would sprinkle the blood eight times—a number symbolizing the supernatural. Just as eight represents what’s beyond nature, teshuvah is beyond logic. Who can explain the miracle of a heart turning pure?

The Two Goats: Choosing Our Path

On Yom Kippur, the Beis HaMikdash saw the ritual of two identical goats—one for Hashem, and one for Azazel. They were externally the same, but their destinies were vastly different.

One was brought into the holiest place and elevated. The other met a violent end, symbolizing sin and destruction. The message is clear: We each have free will.

Don't be fooled by temporary comforts or easier paths. What seems easier in the moment can lead to spiritual loss. The path of Hashem may require sacrifice, but it leads to elevation and eternal meaning.

Why Both “Yisrael” and “Yeshurun”? Two Types of Forgiveness

In our Yom Kippur tefillos, we say:“Ki Atah Soleich l’Yisrael, u’mechalan l’shivtei Yeshurun.”

Why the double language?

Reb Elchonon Wasserman zt”l, based on the Meshech Chochmah, explains: “Yisrael” refers to sins between us and Hashem (bein adam laMakom), while “Yeshurun” refers to sins between people (bein adam l’chaveiro).

On Yom Kippur, Hashem offers forgiveness for both—if we do our part. That means not only introspection and regret, but also apologizing to others, repairing relationships, and being willing to change.

A Final Message: Choose the Path of Holiness

My husband z”l used to emphasize this every Yom Kippur: We must not be passive. We must choose.

Yom Kippur presents each of us with a path—toward Hashem