There is a famous question asked as to why the first Teffila that we say after Yom Kippur is Vhu Rachum Yechaper Avon. Why are we asking Hashem to forgive us for our sins? What avaros could we have done between the end of Yom Kippur and Maariv? Explains Rav Sruli Bornstein that the days of Elul and Tishrei are a special time for Teshuva. However there are some people who are so far away and disconnected that they simply can't do Teshuva. These individuals don't feel the Ani Lidodi Vedodi Li or the 40 days of Yimai Ratzon. Then Rosh Hashanah and the Asaras Yimei Teshuva comes and even though the entire focus and Avodah is to ask for forgiveness and to change our ways these yidden are so seperated from levels of ruchnius that's its simply not shayuch for them. However then Yom Kippur arrives and the day itself brings atonement for every single Jew no matter how far removed they are from G-d and even this individual who is completely disconnected, he too recieves purification and can now do Teshuva. So this is why the first thing we do immediately after Yom Kippur is we start doing Teshuva. For those who are farthest away, Yom Kippur is not the end of Teshuva is just the beginning.
Thank G-d we are all fortunate to appreciate the power of Teshuva and are privileged to use Elul and Aseres Yimei Teshuva properly. However we might have one area of our Avodas Hashem that we believe is just out of reach. When it comes to this area of our life we are convinced that hope is lost and Teshuva is just impossible. Comes the Vehu Rachum after Yom Kippur to teach us that Teshuva is shayuch for us here too and it's not too late....For the parts of our life that we thought Teshuva was impossible, Yom Kippur is only the beginning of our Teshuva process and our growth journey to come even closer to Hashem.
The Chovas Hilovovos speaks about the importance for every person to consider what he calls tzuras omdo b'olam, the essential character of his existence. Rabbi Avigdor Miller focused on this teaching to remind all of us that we are not preeminent residents in this world. We must appreciate that our time in this world is temporary and by taking care of our guf and our health we not only give ourselves more time but we show Hashem that we appreciate the life that he continues to gives us. This is the message of Succos. We leave our homes and enter a temporary dwelling, diras Arai, to remind us regarding the temporary nature of our existence in this world our actual tzuras omdo b'olam.
One time of the year that we are reminded of the importance of our health is on Yom Kippur. We know that when a person is ill Lo Alainu and is required medically to eat, the halacha prohibits fasting. In fact there are many stories of Gedolim who went out of their way to make sure how important this mitvah is even in the face of eating on the holiest day of the year. It's known that Rav Yisroel Salanter ate publically in shul the year of the great Cholera epidemic to ensure that the community did not fast. The Chozen Ish traveled on Erev Yom Kippur to a hospital far from his home to give a talmud the message, "that just as it is a mitzvah for a healthy Jew to fast on Yom Kippur, it is as great a mitzvah for you to eat on Yom Kippur with a happy heart." But there is a super powerful message here..... we dont have to be a person who is forced to eat on Yom Kippur in order to fulfill this special mitzvah! Every day we have the opportunity to live healthy lives and take care of our guf. From the food we eat, the exercise time we invest and the amount of time we sleep, we have so many opportunities to remind ourselves and show Hashem how important we consider this mitzvah of V'nishmartem.
May we all be inspired to do a Teshuva Gemurah. May we appreciate the great gift of life that we have and may we have the courage and strength to take the necessary action to guard and protect our bodies in the way Hashem expects. May our new kabalos for the year allow us to grow and reach greater heights in our health and fitness and all our Avodas Hashem.
댓글