Yom Kippur helps us reach past who we think we are - and to yearn for who we'd like to be. Mrs. Juravel explains how vidui (confession) is the power of the day. She ties in how allowing the awesome cry of the shofar to shake our souls helps to sway our judgment to the good.
Why do we read about the deaths of Aharon's sons Nadav and Avihu on Yom Kippur in an attempt to achieve forgiveness in their merit? After all, they sinned - are we glorifying that? The holiest day of the year, when we achieve a fleeting level of separation between body and soul that is a portend of the end of days is the most perfect time to mention these two great men - creators of Yom Kippur as it exists for us today.
Yom Kippur is a day we spend in the rarified atmosphere of fasting, tears and prayer. As the day progresses we often feel further and further removed from our earthly pursuits and desires. The problem is how quickly this high feeling comes to an end. We may feel so let down and even apprehensive to take the steps we so fervently promised ourselves the day before. An important class for turning Yom Kippur into a very positive experience.
What place does confession have in the teshuvah process? After all, G-d surely knows what we've done - as do we. Rabbi Kirzner proves the depth of vidui as a throwing out of the negativity within us, and how that brings purity in its wake. Even more, how does this process help us reach levels a tzaddik cannot?
Even if we decide to do teshuvah for the wrong reasons it has value. But isn't that a contradiction to its very definition of sincere regret past wrongdoings, and leaving them behind? Rabbi Kirzner explains the power of repentance - and what we must do when we feel no push to change at all.
In this interesting talk, Rabbi Moshe Aaron Stern delves into the puzzling story of Yonah the prophet, and Nineveh, the non-Jewish city to which he was sent to demand their repentance. Yonah was in fact the only prophet ever who was sent to implore non-Jews to repent. How come? The Rabbi's inspired answer to the question can change the way you prepare for this year's Yom Kippur experience.
Rabbi Stern looks at all the extra time we'd have to learn if we were in fact aware of all these moments. Sharing inspirational stories of great men, and even ordinary men, who with just a few small ideas achieved greatness in learning far beyond their most optimistic expectations.
The ten days starting from Rosh Hashana through Yom Kippur is the most awesome period in the Jewish calendar - in terms of developing ones finer character traits. Rabbi Wein asserts that the history of teshuva is also the history of humanity. He brings Torah sources and amazing stories to show how teshuva not only builds us individually, but also as a nation.
In keeping with the introspective spirit of the Day of Atonement, Rabbi Wein delves into question that has perplexed the greatest of Jewish minds: why do we suffer through difficult times? Citing Torah sages and with stories of Jews who triumphed through the darkness of the Holocaust and Soviet Russia, Rabbi Wein sheds light on this difficult question and delivers an inspiring message about the power of teshuva.
There are a few concepts of Rosh Hashana that do not make much sense. First, why are we told not to pray for personal requests? And if it’s the birthday of the world, why all the fear and trepidation? And logically repentance of Yom Kippur should come before Rosh Hashanah! Rabbi Zeldman keeps us focused on the primary goals we hope to attain.