BS’D
Today’s daily dose is dedicated l’iluy nishmat Chava bas Efraim Shabsai, a’h. May her neshama be elevated by the learning of today amongst all of the tzaddikim who have departed from this world, Amen.
Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz shlit’a makes a beautiful point of the gift of Yom Kippur. Rabbi Akiva ztk’l is known to say, “Ashreichem Yisroel, lifnei mi atem metaharin umi metaher es’chem, Avichem sheba’Shomayim” (Yoma 8:9). Yom Kippur is a day where our sins against Hashem are forgiven. Yet, without the Beit HaMikdash how are we ‘dipped’ into a Mikveh? Hashem Himself, so to speak, serves as the agent of purification. This teaches us a profound lesson as to the extent of how much Hashem loves His beloved children.
Unfortunately we do not have our Holy Beit HaMikdash standing in this world to help us atone for our transgressions and sacrifices cannot be brought to bring us closer to Hashem. Yom Kippur, however restores us just the same.
It is vital to mentally prepare ourselves for this powerful immersion. On Yom Kippur we are each dipped into Hashem’s ‘Personal Mikveh.’ The words of Rabbi Akiva stand today to console us. No matter how deep we may have sunk, Hashem is here with us to see us through our darkness and enlighten our life’s path.
The Maharal ztk’l explains that the taharah (spiritual purity) that comes as a result of Yom Kippur is the natural effect of what follows when one cleaves to Hashem. Anytime we completely attach ourselves to Hashem, it is impossible for a sin to remain attached to us since Hashem is the source of all taharah. When there are no barriers between us and Hashem – all transgressions naturally dissolve and are stripped away.
Another astounding insight for us to anticipate as we approach the last of the ten days of repentance! Yom Kippur and the enveloping kedusha it creates, and even as the day ends its effect is left with us. Thank you so much Hashem!
