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The Happiest Day of the Year \ Parashat Emor
This week’s Parasha mentions the observance of Yom Kippur. Our Sages tell us (Ta’anit 26b), “There is no better day for Klal Yisrael than Yom Kippur.” Yet, for most of us, it is a solemn day of repentance and introspection. Why is such a serious day considered the best of days?
The Prophet Isaiah admonished Klal Yisrael for being downcast on Yom Kippur: “Can such gloom be the fast I choose, a day when man merely afflicts himself? Can it be merely bowing one’s head like a bulrush and spreading a mattress of sackcloth and ashes?” (Isaiah 58:5).
Yom Kippur is a time of judgement, fasting, and repentance. Isn’t the focus of the day to reflect on one’s misdeeds and shortcomings — and to feel a sense of sorrow?
In this passage Isaiah reveals what should take place on Yom Kippur, “Isn’t the purpose of this fast that I have chosen to loosen the fetters of wickedness, to undo the bonds of injustice, and to let the oppressed go free and that you break every inner corruption?”
Yom Kippur is a time of liberation. It provides us with the opportunity to extricate ourselves from negativity and unfavorable deeds. If we open our hearts to the holy power of Yom Kippur and fill our souls with goodness, compassion, and kindness, the Prophet assures us, “Then your light shall burst forth as the dawn, and your healing shall quickly spring forth, your righteous deed will precede you and the glory of HaShem will gather you in.”
The Prophet stirs us to realize that Yom Kippur is a time of joy and celebration. To be sure, there is no greater happiness than forgiveness and redemption.
The purpose of serving HaShem is sincere joy and delight. Although certain aspects of Yom Kippur evoke remorse, this is the means and not the end. Through proper observance of Yom Kippur, our spirits our cleansed, our soul elevated, and our hearts filled with elation.
(Based on Ohr HaZafun of Rabbi Nosson Zvi Finkel)
