The True Mirror Image

This Tuesday night & Wednesday is the holy time of Yom Kippur. We know it as a day of fasting, lengthy prayer services, and secret day dreams of different break-fast meal options :) But what is the significance & power of these 24 hours, at its core? I spent the day at the beach today. Not swimming or surfing, but rather doing the "tashlich service" (throwing bread to the fish, representing our desire to turn from bad to good) with local Jewish day school kids. One of the exorcises we did, was giving out little mirrors out for the kids to look into. They were asked what they saw. Sone said "my face", others "the sand behind", still others "my eyes." "True, you saw those things," we said. "But eyes are the windows to the soul. When looking at ourselves and at others, we can just see outer physical figures. Or we can look deeper into the soul within."

During these days between Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur, and especially the day itself, we have the ability to reach into our souls, one's essence within, who we truly are. We primarily identify ourselves with what we do, not who we are inside. Behind every "experience", there's an I experiencing it. And no matter what path we have led so far in life, no matter what negative actions we have done, the true "I" in us remains unscathed. At our core we are pure and limitless, our essence unscathed through all the mud. We are not our actions - and must always remember that our inner light can never be extinguished, through thick & thin. At this time of year we often blow the shofar, for the shofar represents the simple cry of the soul - beyond our usual words & outer expression.

On Yom Kippur, Jewish Mysticism explains, this core of our beings - known as "Yechidah" - is revealed. This occurs primarily during "ne'ilah" - the 5th & last prayer of the day which corresponds to this 5th level of the soul. Ne'ilah means "closing" - representing the closing of the heavenly gates at the end of Yom Kippur. But our mystics explain a beautiful idea. It's not that the gates are closing with us on the outside, with our last chances to request forgiveness and a good year finished, but rather that we are closed in with G-d on the inside, in the deepest connection of embrace. During this time, let's try to focus less on the break-fast meal of cream cheese & lox, or even on the prayer pages, but to try and peer past the physical & material, and look into the deeper core of the world & our inner selves. For much of the other 364 days of the year, society succeeds in getting our attention diverted from ever thinking about our personal purpose for existing, from ever trying to realize our fullest potential. "Teshuvah," often translated as "Repentance,"if properly translated means "Return." While possible throughout the entire year, at this time G-d Gives us a special, sanctified haven in time to re-connect and return to our true, inner selves. Then in turn we connect with G-d on a level beyond our usual relationship - to a place beyond our sins & mistakes, where all can be forgiven.

This year, look into the mirror and see the truly beautiful person you are. Have an easy fast and a sweet new year!

Shabbat Shalom!

Recognition

The primary theme of Rosh Hashanah, as mentioned last week, is to make G-d our king. Deciding whether to serve Him as our King. On Yom Kippur, however, we focus now on the next step: how we serve G-d.



There was once a King who had a favorite adviser, who was Jewish. The other gentile advisers were very jealous of him. So they plotted to slander him to the King. They knew that the Jew had told the king how much money he owned, which was different to the true amount, so they informed the king of this lie. Upon hearing this, the king called his favorite advisor and gave him a chance to set the record straight. “I have $2,000 dinars,” said the Jewish adviser. “I’m surprised,” said the king. “I heard that you’re worth 10,000 dinars.” “2,000”, reiterated the Jew. “I’m shocked and angered by your lies!” said the king. “I will have all your possessions taken from you, and you will be sent to prison.” As the Jew was being led out, the king stopped him and said: “I have one question I want to ask you. How could you lie like that to me? I’ve always trusted you!” The Jew responded: “I didn’t lie. The 2,000 dinars I said that I owned, refers to the 2,000 dinars I’ve given to tzedaka, charity, during this past year. That money is mine. The rest of the money isn’t mine. And the proof is that you’re able to take it from me whenever you want! So was it ever really mine?” The king was very impressed, and released his adviser.

We sing, we dance, we speak and we think. But to whom do these abilities & talents really belong to? A brilliant musician, a pretty face, an intelligent mind; all that one has is really just a gift, one that was given & can be taken at any time. Our very bodies, our speech; all is a gift. Yom Kippur is an opportune time to think about all that we have. And to realize that, if I've gotten everything from Him, how have I repaid Him? Do I still feel comfortable with how I’ve treated Him back? On Yom Kippur, we don’t think about our sins all day, dwelling on the negative. Rather, we think about our relationship with G-d. Considering all that He does for me, is there perhaps more that I could be doing to reciprocate in my relationship with Him? Acting in consonance with the truth that all that I have is a free gift, given for a purpose? My brain, mouth, heart, eyes, hands - are on loan to be utilized in a positive direction; a direction that the one who gave it to me in the 1st place would be proud of.

Let's use out this special 24 hr. time slot, when the power on high shines down on our souls, awakening our natural connection to the Giver of all life. Let's choose a small moment during the incessant prayer period & tiresome fasting, to reflect on all the good that we have and how we can improve. G-d isn't looking down sternly at us. He is smiling at us, at the efforts we make to be good in spite of tough challenges. At the efforts we make to stay connected to Judaism even after all of these years of exile. Let's take advantage and reconnect, infusing in ourselves the spiritual power to succeed in the coming year.
May you have an easy fast and a sweet year! And please forgive me if I have wronged you in any way.

-Daniel

Beneath the Surface

Tom. night & Saturday, this coming Shabbat, is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar - Yom Kippur.
A day of fasting, lengthy prayer service, and secret day dreams of the break-fast meal... But what is the significance & power of this day really, at its core?

The answer is exactly that: the core. On this day we have the ability to reach into our core, the essence
of who we truly are. For generally we identify ourselves with what we do, not who we are.
Behind every experience, there's an I experiencing it.
And no matter what path we have led so far in life, no matter what negative actions we have done, the true "I" in us
remains unscathed. At our core we are pure and limitless, our essence unscathed through all the mud.
We are not our actions - and must always remember that our inner light can never be extinguished, through thick & thin.
At this time of year we often blow the shofar, for the shofar represents the simple cry of the soul - beyond our usual words & outer expression.

On Yom Kippur, Jewish Mysticism explains, this core of our beings, this essence of our souls known as "Yechidah" - is revealed
throughout the day, but primarily during "ne'ilah" - the 5th & last prayer which corresponds to this 5th level of the soul. Ne'ilah means "closing" - representing the closing of the heavenly gates at the end of Yom Kippur. But our mystics explain, that the gates aren't closing with us on the outside, but we are closed in with G-d on the inside, in the deepest connection and embrace.
Thus, we have the power on this day to not just focus on the break-fast meal of cream cheese & lox, or even just the prayer pages,
but to try and peer past the physical, material world around us - to the deeper core of the world & our inner selves.
For much of the other 364 days of the year, society succeeds in getting our attention diverted from ever thinking about our
personal purpose for existing. From ever trying to realize our fullest potential.

"Teshuvah," often translated as "Repentance," really translates as "Return." While possible throughout the entire year,
in these 24 hrs. G-d Gives us a special, sanctified haven in time to re-connect and return to our true selves, beyond our actions.
And then in turn we connect with G-d on a level beyond our usual relationship - to a place beyond our sins & mistakes, where all can be forgiven.

So Let's take advantage! Have an easy fast :)

-Daniel
S. Diego, CA
P.S. Please forgive me if I have ever wronged you, and may you & yours be blessed & sealed for a sweet yr. materially, physically, & spiritually!

Hiding a deck of Cards - a Y. Kippur Meditation

B"H

I wish you a very amazing Yom Kippur

(Sun. Night - Mon. night).

May you and your family have a sweet year, with all blessings materially and spiritually.

May the best of last year, be the worst of this year!

Mendel Futerfas, fondly known by all as "Reb Mendel", was a special Chassid who inspired all who met him. He suffered much hardship in his life on account of his self-sacrifice to teach children Torah in Communist Russia where it was forbidden. He was finally caught at one point, and was sentenced to 15 years of labor in Siberia. He later moved to Israel and taught students there. He passed away in 1995.

A Teacher here in my yeshiva, Rabbi Kaplan, was a student of his many years ago.

He related to us the following story he heard directly from Reb Mendel:

"One night, I was resting in a room shared with many other Russian prisoners. They were playing cards and having a very good time.

All of a sudden we heard footsteps, and in stormed one of the officers.

"Where are the cards!?!" Yelled the officer, "I know you're playing cards and I'm going to catch you." Glancing around the room, the officer gave a final glare at all those around him, and left.

No sooner had he left, than the cards were right back on the table and the playing ensued.

After a few minutes, the door again slammed open.

"I know they're here!"

This time the Officer had brought a fellow officer with him, and they began frisking every prisoner, turning over tables and chairs, searching high and low for the illegal deck of cards. After 15 minutes of searching, the officers left angry & exasperated.

After they had left, the cards were placed back on the table and playing resumed. "I couldn't take it anymore," related Reb Mendel. "I had to know how these prisoners hid the cards with such amazing efficiency! So I asked them, "How do you do it?"

"We can't tell you," one of them answered. "You'll rat on us."

"Come on," Reb mendel argued, "I'm a prisoner just like you. Why would I care to do that?"

"Fine," one of them answered. "I'll tell you.

We prisoners are thieves by trade. We're quick with our hands. Whenever the officer enters, one of us takes the deck and secretly places it in his pocket. It's the only place he never thinks to check."

Reb Mendel sat back to think. In every circumstance and event Reb Mendel found himself in, he always liked to find a lesson to be learned in life and in the service of G-d. What lesson could be gleaned from this situation? At a Chassidic Gathering years later, Reb Mendel explained what he had learned:

"Oftentimes we're so busy checking other people's pockets, that we forget to check our own pockets, where the issue really lies."

--------------

As Yom Kippur nears, it's a propitious time to reflect on how we may have wronged others in our lives, and ask for their forgiveness.

But in our hearts, many of us truly believe that we are not the ones to be blamed.

But we have to check our "pockets."

In marital relationships, a spouse has one of 2 options. To always blame the other for issues of contention that arise, or to have the sense of mind to check one's own pockets to see if he or she has an area which they could fix. This applies to all relationships. We all (including myself) mistakenly spend too much time trying to fix those around us, when we should rather be spending the time working on ourselves. For ultimately, at the end of the day, we only have ourselves to fix. Its much easier to find the faults in others around us. To look within, with honesty, and find areas that need fixing, is truly wise, and truly holy.

With this attitude in mind, our forgiveness of others at this time of year, and our requests for forgiveness, should meet with increased success, and continue throughout the year!

--

To end off with one point about the auspicious day of Yom Kippur itself. Many of us spend the day in Synagogue, fasting, waiting for the day to end, counting the seconds on the clock and fantasizing as to which flavor of Jamba Juice we're going to get when it finishes

(Mango anyone? )

It's very important though, on such a special day, to try and choose a moment or two, to truly meditate on our lives and our connection to G-d and our Judaism.

I heard a nice idea last night. The final prayer of the day of Yom Kippur is called Ne'ilah. This time is usually described as the last chance of the year, as the heavenly "gates" are closing, to send our last pleas and requests to G-d for our coming year.

Chassidic teachings take this a bit deeper.

On Yom Kippur, our souls are awakened to a deeper connection with G-d. As Ne'ilah approaches, and the gates are closing, we are left alone with G-d - behind the gates, inside. It's taught that each of the 5 prayers of the day correspond to one of the *5 levels in of our soul. This is a time to really connect and revel in our close and unbreakable bond with our Maker. Let's take advantage of this day, and springboard into the year with its inspiration!

-Daniel

Jerusalem, Israel

May you be Sealed for a good & sweet year!

-----------

*Classical kabbala identifies four levels of the soul - called 1)Nefesh, 2)Ruach, 3)Neshama, and 4)Neshama l'neshama. Nefesh is the animating principle of the physical body and the senses; ruach is the force vitalizing the emotions; neshama is the vitality of intellect; and neshama l'neshama is the essence of life of the human soul. The Arizal refers to this fourth level of soul as Chaya, signifying its function as the essence of life. However, all these four aspects of the soul he regarded as mere extensions of the essence of the soul, which he called Yechida.