Before we discuss this upcoming awesome Shabbos Yom Kippur, I feel it is crucial that we discuss a bit the current events. The purpose for this is not for interest purposes. Rather my goal is to reawaken our response to miracles on one hand, and tragedies on the other, so that we don’t squander the messages that are coming straight from Hashem,

We are standing in unprecedented times. It almost seems as if we are living through a dream. Some may be pinching themselves to verify that they are truly awake. I’m sure many of you have had dreams that seemed so real and all of the sudden you were jolted awake. This my friends is the best way to describe our situation now.

The tremendous wars in Eretz Yisroel seem to be intensifying by the day, or shall I say by the minute. The constant barrage of rockets that keep being launched into Eretz Yisroel by the vicious Yishmael, and the constant open miracles that are being witnessed.

My friend told me that he heard an eyewitness account of a missile that whizzed right over a bus in Yerushalayim and landed – in a lake. The missile was the size of an Egged bus. There are countless fresh miracles that are emerging that just took place to our brothers in Eretz Yisroel.

How do we respond when we hear miracles? Obviously, we need to get impressed, but it’s not enough. Inspiration as not a means on its own. Inspiration is the start of the engine to get us moving [as we explained in last article at length].

When we hear of such miracles we need to praise Hashem non stop for all the miracles and start putting a focus on all the love that Hashem has for us. When we say three times a day Modim we need to get emotional and especially at the words “V’al nisecha shebichol Yom”.

On the other hand there are quite a few tragedies that have transpired recently, both to soldiers and civilians, which are heartbreaking. These incidents should move us to tears. However, it doesn’t stop there.

How do we respond to such tragedies? The answer is Teshuva Tefilla and Tzedaka, and especially during these awesome days of the Aseres Yemai Teshuva. Instead of just nodding our heads and giving a krechtz [which is the right thing to do], we need to respond with heartfelt Teshuva Tefilla and Tzeddaka.

Recently, in the country that we find ourselves in has been hit with devastating hurricanes. Two tremendous hurricanes happened back to back during the Aseres Yemai Teshuva. The most recent one actually affected an area where many Yidden reside, R”l.

Shabbos Yom Kippur –

Having said that let’s move on to this awesome holy day of Yom Kippur. The truth is that every Yom Kippur is special and amazing beyond words. Yom Kippur is a day that we can achieve holiness and purity like no other day of the year. Yom Kippur is a day that Hashem forgives us and we become pure and holy like angels.

We can go on and on but I believe while that most people realize [at least on a basic level] how special Yom Kippur is and all its benefits. However, many people don’t realize that Yom Kippur does have its match, and that is the holy day of Shabbos. In fact the Taz [O.C. 242] writes that Shabbos in a certain sense can offer a greater Kappara than Yom Kippur.

The obvious question that if that’s the case why do we need Yom Kippur for? Doesn’t Shabbos come back every seven days? So it’s a big discussion, but the basic answer is that in order to be able to draw from the wellsprings of Shabbos, one must have a connection to Shabbos [which is a discussion on its own].

With Yom Kippur, however, it’s much easier to get Kappara. In fact there is one opinion in the Gemara that Yom Kippur can atone for even someone that doesn’t do Teshuva. The Meforshim say that even according to the Chachamim that hold that one does need Teshuva on Yom Kippur, it doesn’t need to be the highest level.

Obviously it needs to be sincere, but not the highest level. [However, as Rabbeinu Yona tells us, the greater the Teshuva is, the more holiness and purity one will attain on this day]. What we need is the four basic steps of Teshuva. Which is 1- עזיבת החטא 2- חרטה – regret 3 – קבלה על העתיד – accepting on oneself not to have a repeat 4- ווידוי – confession of our Aveiros.

Interestingly, Yom Kippur represents the holiest person, the Kohen Gadol, going into the holiest place. Shabbos, in a certain sense, is the holiest time. Others say that Yom Kippur is even more holy than Shabbos, as we see that Yom Kippur overrides Shabbos.

Whatever the case I have exciting amazing news to say. That this coming Shabbos is going to be the ultimate Keddusha ever, because on this day is when these two most holiest days meet. It’s a bomb! This can create an explosion of Keddusha and Tahara like never before. Can we imagine how much energy there is in such a day?

Can we imagine how much we can gain from such an awesome day? How much closeness to Hashem, Ahavas Hashem, and Yiras Shomayim we can acquire on this day. How much Keddusha and Tahara we can acquire on this tremendous awesome day. Such a brilliant radiant light that is shining on this day. We need to storm this day through Tefilla, Teshuva, and Torah [at the break].

All this is on a personal level. Now we can take this to the next level.

Moshiach – The Gemara (Yoma 19b) brings down that one of the Amoraim asked Eliyahu Hanavi why doesn’t Moshiach come on Yom Kippur? Eliyahu responds that even on this holy day there is still immorality taking place.

We see from the question, however, that Yom Kippur is an ideal time for Moshiach. The simple reason is because this is a time when Klal Yisroel is doing Teshuva. Moreover, Yom Kippur is a day when the light of Tahara is shining bright similar to the era of Moshiach. Our hearts are starting to heal as well.

With regards to Shabbos, Chazal tell us that if Klal Yisroel keeps the Shabbos the redemption would happen immediately. So we see clearly that on Shabbos we have the power to bring the Geula. If you focus on the theme of the Zemiros of Shabbos you will see this as well.

On the other hand there is another Chazal that says that “if Klal Yisroel would keep two Shabbosos we will be redeemed immediately”. Perhaps we can say that this Chazal is alluding to a year like this when Yom Kippur falls out on Shabbos. Such an awesome powerful day, can definitely bring Moshiach if we utilize it properly.

I would like to share with you a fascinating addendum to this. We all know that keeping Shabbos and its Halachos is not easy. There are many intricate Halachos and it’s very difficult not to stumble if one isn’t well versed in Hilchos Shabbos. Moreover, todays new inventions and the wide variety of different kinds of foods and accessories with packaging make it even more difficult.

Then there is the part of upholding the Keddushas Shabbos that can be challenging. Whether it’s with regard to the proper speech or reading material, advertisements and many other challenges that we are faced with on a weekly basis.

However, my friends, this coming Shabbos most of these issues are pretty much off the table. Most people are in Shul almost all day and even those that have long breaks, since there isn’t any eating on this day, the challenges are moderate. Obviously, if challenges do come our way we should fight like a lion to uphold the Keddusha of Shabbos and Yom Kippur.

So what we are seeing now is that this Shabbos Yom Kippur in addition to the energy, the light, and the power it has, it’s also much easier to uphold the Keddusha of Shabbos and to keep the thirty nine Melachos. Perhaps it would be great if we would make Kabbalos on this day to continue upholding the Keddush of Shabbos. For example: by making a seder in Hilchos Shabbos, and also preparing for Shabbos as early as possible.

The Fast – I would like to highlight what the יסוד ושורש העבודה says with regards to our fasting on Yom Kippur. He says that every second that we fast we are getting a Mitzva for fasting. Furthermore, it’s not just a מצות עשה it also has a לא תעשה connected too. Moreover, Chazal tell us that a Mitzva that has pain is worth a thousand times than a Mitzva without pain.

So go calculate the reward that awaits such a person. When we think like this we should not feel any weakness from the fast. Rather, we should feel joyous that we can bring Hashem such an amazing Nachas Ruach. This should be our thought process during the fast [One can assume that this applies to the other עינוים as well].

Let’s conclude with a Mashal. Imagine a king sends his three sons into exile because of their rebellious behavior. The king banished them into four separate countries [so that they can’t give each other the chizzuk].

The four Princes not having a place to go, wandered around aimlessly. Having no choice they started begging for food and their clothing started becoming tattered. Hunger starts taking them over at times and they really were suffering. Oblivious to their prestigious background many times they were attacked by peasants. When they claimed to be princes it only backfired.

Now this king had a custom that went as follows. The king had one week that anyone was able to come into the palace to put in their requests. This week was when the king had become the king over this country. This was how the king would celebrate his kingship.

The princes knew about this and when the appointed time arrived they started heading toward their old palace. It was an arduous journey for all of them but they made it for the grand celebration. The palace guard didn’t even recognize them, but they were let in like everyone else and they waited their turn.

When the brothers came in despite their haggard appearance the King who was their loving compassionate father did indeed recognize them. One brother falls down on his knees and cries out “Mighty king please sustain me as I am starving.” Then he adds on “I can really use a shelter as I am getting soaked from the rain”.

The king looks at his son with pity as he holds back the tears and says “Sure your wish shall be granted,” and he dismisses him.

Then the second son gets up and he cries out “Please I need more than food and shelter I also need a doctor to heal all my wounds that I have gotten over the year. I am also lacking some other basic necessities as well”.

The king looks at his second son with pity as he holds back the tears and says “Sure your wish shall also be granted,” and he dismisses him.

Then the third son gets up and cries out, “I remember the days when I had luxuries like expensive wines and delicacies.” The kings face light up with a hopeful look on his face. However, the prince concluded, “So can the king please give those to me so I can bring them with me to my new house that is in a shed in the tent city”.

The kings face fell when he heard the conclusion of his third son. He stiffly ordered his guards to give the third son some wine and delicacies and he sent him on his way.

Finally the fourth son gets up and with tears in his eyes he cried “Mighty king my Abba please I want to come home. I will be a loyal son to you. I have decided to turn over a new leaf. I want to feel your loving embrace. I want to bask in your warmth and radiance.”

When the king heard these heartfelt words he ran over to his son with tears in his eyes, embraced him and kissed him. “Welcome home” said the king. “I was waiting for you all this time. Your suffering is over. Welcome home.”

I think the Nimshal is pretty clear. Hashem sent us into galus for our benefit, which is to cleanse us. Yes, we do go through lots of suffering, both physically and spiritually. We are almost unrecognizable in a way.

However, there is a time that Hashem is celebrating His Kingship in the world, and that is during the Aseres Yemai Teshuva. It’s a time that we are all in the palace as it says דרשו ה בהמצאו. It’s a time that Hashem is listening to our Tefillos and waiting to hear from us.

So at this time we head over starting from Elul toward the palace of Hashem. Many of us are almost unrecognizable as we are suffering from hunger especially in a spiritual sense. We are worn out from our wars with the Yetzer Hara and the influence of the galus.

We arrive at the palace and we wait for the day of Yom Kippur which is the Yom tov of the Bais Hamikdash – הביאני המלך חדריו. We enter the throne room and Hashem asks us “My son what do you want from me? I am at Your service כביכול.” So many of us cry out הב הב [as brought down in the Zohar]. We need Parnassah. We need Shidduchim. We need a nicer house and car.

We can only imagine how disappointed our father is when he hears our selfish cries and we forget about our Loving Caring Father. We forget how much does for us and that Hashem has pain from the fact that His children are far away from Him.

Then one child gets up and starts begging Hashem for spirituality, which is what Hashem wants to hear. However, what this Yid is asking that he should go back to his Yeshiva or Kollel in Galus and shteig over there. On this Hashem says חבבתם את תורתי ולא צפית למלכותי. You have an appreciation for my palace [the Torah and Mitzvos] but you are not interested in returning?

Finally, the last son get up and gives a cry that comes from the depths of his heart אבינו מלכינו כתבינו בספר גאולה וישועה. My Father my King please bring your children back home so we can bask in Your glow and Your radiance.

The truth is that during the entire עשרת ימי תשובה and especially on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur we are constantly davening for Malchus Shomayim. Why? Because this is the theme. Chazal wanted to realize that this is what we should be asking for. Furthermore, we need to keep begging and begging for Geula. When someone begs he keeps repeating himself [in different ways], and that’s what we should be doing.

This is easier said than done. We need to sit on this concept and we need everyone on board. We need all of Klal Yisroel to implore with Hashem on this tremendous שבת יום כיפור, and we need to raise our voice with unison and achdus [after we eradicated the שנאת חנם as we forgave all our fellow brothers] and cry out ותמלך אתה ה לבדך על כל מעשיך בהר ציון משכן כבודיך. Let’s do it.