Yom Kippur: The Happiest Day of the Year

Yom Kippur: The Happiest Day of the Year


Tishrei 8, 5771/ September 16, 2010

It is said that "Yom Kippur is the happiest day of the year, for on this day the Holy One, Blessed be He, atones for Israel." The feeling of joyful anticipation is palpable. After many arduous weeks of intensive soul-searching and reflection, stock-taking and personal assessment, we arrive at this most solemn of days, ready to stand before our Creator in judgment. Our good acts, pure thoughts and supplications, and perfect desire to draw near to G-d's Holy presence, the Divine Shechina, and write ourselves into His Book of Life are our defense attorneys and our witnesses. Awesome trepidation? Certainly. A sense of morbid dread? Absolutely not. For it is our own hand that writes our name into the book of Life, and if our signature is a true reflection of our purpose on this earth, to love G-d and walk in His ways, then He will surely place His seal of love and forgiveness upon us. Yom Kippur - truly the happiest day of the year! G’mar Chatima Tova - May we all be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life!

Tune in to this week's Temple Talk as Rabbi Chaim Richman and Yitzchak Reuven share their thoughts on preparing for the awesome experience of Yom Kippur and getting the most out of the day guaranteed by Hashem to give us a fresh start - if we utilize it properly. The real challenge, of course, starts the day after... What is the secret of a true ba’al teshuva - a "master of repentance?" How does one earn such a title? Can anybody do it? And what do our sages really mean when they teach that if one truly engages in repentance for the right reasons, G-d literally changes his personal history? Temple Talk.

The Art of Yom Kippur, 5771: Have you ever made a mistake? Have you ever wished you could turn back the clock, press a delete button, wipe clean your own personal slate? Yom Kippur is G-d's certificate of guarantee that if you have it within you to leave your past errors behind and draw near to Him, He will forget your past mistakes, and accept you as you are today, new and improved, and ready for tomorrow. Click here to view this three minute video blessing.

Today also features the new Light to the Nations teaching by Rabbi Chaim Richman, entitled, "Living with G-d: Yom Kippur 5771: The opportunity to do teshuva, commonly translated as repentance, but more accurately defined as returning to G-d, and returning to yourself, as G-d intended you, awaits us every day of the year. But there is no day as propitious for teshuva as the 10th day of Tishrei - Yom Kippur. On this day, G-d, our Father and King, opens before us His Book of Our Lives, and allows us to make the changes we need to draw closer to Him, to our own true selves, and restart our lives on a whole other level." Click here to view.

We are still mourning the tragic loss of Yitzchak and Talya Imas, devoted Temple Mount activists, who were murdered by terrorists, leaving behind six orphaned children. Many people have inquired how they can help. If you would like to donate to a fund which has been established in Israel to care for the six Imas children, please contact us. Arrangements can be made for an IRS recognized deduction.

The Yom Kippur service, as it was conducted by the Kohen Gadol in the Holy Temple, was unparalleled in the intensity of its activity and its intended purpose. To learn how Yom Kippur was observed in the Holy Temple, please click here.

G’mar Chatima Tova - May we all be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life!   Yitzchak Reuven   The Temple Institute