Reader's letter

Yom Kippur, the best-known date of the Jewish year, is a unique day in the calendar of our people. It is a day that brings Jews together and, even those who do not usually attend synagogues throughout the year, make a point of being present at prayers on that day.

The reason for this massive attendance at synagogues in Yom Kippur is that this date constitutes a unique opportunity for us to atone for our mistakes and transgressions.

In addition to this, there is another reason why Yom Kippur be the high point of the Jewish calendar: this day is, as the Talmud teaches, the date on which we celebrate the eternity of our Torah and our pact with G-d.

However, the festival associated with receiving the Torah is Shavuot, in 6^o and 7th day of the month Sivan, date on which the Almighty revealed himself to the entire Jewish people, on Mount Sinai, and pronounced the Ten Commandments – Asseret HaDibrot.

The Divine Revelation was followed by Moses' ascent to Mount Sinai to receive the Torah. He remained there for 40 days and 40 nights learning its contents directly from G-d. Upon returning to the Jewish camp, on the 17th of the month of Tamuz, he came across part of the people worshiping a golden calf. He then breaks the Tablets of Testimony upon which G‑d had engraved the Ten Commandments.

The act of breaking the Tablets meant that the future of the Jewish People and the Torah were threatened. To obtain Divine forgiveness, Moshé climbs Mount Sinai two more times. In each of these, he spends 40 days and 40 nights begging G‑d to the point of putting his life on the line, to force the Almighty to forgive His people. Until, on the 10th of Tishrei, Moses returned to camp with another set of Tablets of Testimony – an indication of G-d's forgiveness of the Jewish People and that He had renewed His covenant with us.

As classical Torah commentator Rashi explains, this was the reason why Yom Kippur be permanently designated Atonement Day. It is interesting to note that the first set of Tablets of the Torah, associated with the feast of Shavuot, was broken, but the second, received in Yom Kippur, remained intact. The party of Shavuot celebrates the receipt of the Torah, while Yom Kippur symbolizes his eternity, that of the Jewish People, as well as our bond with the Almighty.

There is also another significant historical event associated with Yom Kippur: the construction of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem – Divine Dwelling on Earth – a symbol of Divine imminence in the world. The inauguration of the first Beit HaMikdash, built by King Solomon, son of King David, took place in the seven days preceding the feast of Sukkot, which includes the day of Yom Kippur.

In fact, there are numerous reasons why Yom Kippur, despite being a day of fasting, confession of sins and introspection, it is the happiest day in the Jewish calendar. Our Sages teach us that human beings need to daily repent of their behavior and transgressions. Yom Kippur is the most auspicious day to do so because being the day that G-d forgave us for the terrible sin of the golden calf, we can be sure that the power of Divine forgiveness on that day is limitless: this gives us the hope that no matter how far we have strayed from the Divine, we can always return to Him. Yom Kippur offers us a unique opportunity to start again: to turn the page and free ourselves from the failures and sins we have committed against G-d.

Jews flock to synagogues in Yom Kippur because this magical and mystical day touches the depths of our soul.

The theme and historical events that the day recalls – Divine Forgiveness, the eternity of the Torah and the construction of the Holy Temple, among others – reverberate in the collective consciousness of the Jewish People.

Yom Kippur is the day when, metaphorically speaking, G-d extends His Hand over us and invites us to strengthen the eternal bond that unites us to Him. That in this Yom Kippur May we all be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year with much peace, health and joy.

Shaná Tová Umetuká!