Thoughts for Yom Kippur

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Pesach we refrain from puffing ourselves up — we eat matzah, the bread of humility. It helps us remember our total dependence on Hashem. But six months later, on Yom Kippur, we don’t eat anything at all! Our humility reaches new heights as we negate our physicality altogether. We’re stepping off the planet into the spiritual realm. Now we get a glimpse of what really matters.

At the very end of our physical journey in This World, there will be a judgment: Did we fulfill our mission, learn lessons, do what we came here to do? Time will have run out. Whatever we accomplished, we accomplished, and we’ll no longer have physical bodies that can help us do more.

Our “faux-death” on Yom Kippur and the judgment of our past year gives us a glimpse of this bigger judgment to come, but with one major difference. Usually we’ll be able to “return to our bodies.” After Yom Tov, we’ll have another chance to accomplish still more before the Ultimate Judgment comes upon us. Whew! There’s still something we can do! But will we do it?

What to Think About on Yom Kippur

Eating is a major sport, favorite pastime, addictive hobby and more. We love to eat! Of course we need to eat, too, but that’s not why we do it. We need to exercise, but we may or may not avail ourselves of it. We eat because we enjoy food. We eat because we crave food. We eat because we’re earthlings living in physical bodies. We need food to sustain those bodies, but we eat food because it tastes good. In His wisdom, Hashem ensured that we would want to eat so that we would continue to eat and thereby continue to exist so that our body can carry our soul around.

Our soul is the main act, the reason for our existence. Without our soul, we’re just ordinary eating animals like the other animals who eat. But the truth of all this eludes us until, one day, Yom Kippur to be exact, we have to stop eating. “Ohhhhhh. I forgot. My bodily desires are not the main point! Thank You, Hashem, for reminding me! But then, what is the main point? What is the task of the soul?”

Now that we’re not eating, we have time to think seriously about this question. Now that we’re in an otherworldly state, we can remember that we’ll soon be going home to that place, hopefully with a mission accomplished. So now is the time to reflect: Did I grow my soul this past year? Through perfecting our character traits, the soul grows stronger and brighter. Hashem shows us the way, modeling the traits He wants us to work on. Did I work on my humility, patience, kindness, truthfulness, forgiveness, and compassion? Did I figure out how to end conflict and pursue peace? Did I master the “let them” principle and make room for others on my planet — especially my spouse, my in-laws, my other relatives, members of my community, and people who don’t think the way I do? Or am I still the old me, pretty much the same as always?

Did I make the world a better place this past year? Did I do something for others? Did I right some wrongs, bring some relief, provide assistance, make a difference? Did I smile at someone I didn’t know? Or did I concentrate on making my kitchen and bathroom better, buying better stuff, moving up in the world — in This World?

Did I reveal Hashem’s presence in This World this year? Did my conduct in these past weeks and months make others — non-Jews and non-practicing Jews — want to be more like me? Did I make them want to learn more about Hashem? Did I stand up for religion, advertise it proudly, demonstrate my faith and introduce Hashem to hospital staff, storekeepers, bank tellers, service people, and anyone else I came into contact with? Or did I noisily insist on my rights, giving others the impression that I was entitled or unpleasant; did I alienate strangers from me and thereby from Hashem?

Did I prepare for my eternity this past year? Did I strengthen my relationship with Hashem? Did I speak to Him more this year, include Him in my thoughts and actions more consistently? Did I improve my performance of mitzvos, prayer, and acts of kindness? Did I actually reach new levels or did I not think much about any of that because: no time, no interest?

The body wants its food but the soul wants nourishment of a different kind. It came here to develop a relationship with Hashem through Torah study, mitzvos, and acts of kindness. It came here to make a dwelling place for Hashem and it came here to promote awareness of the Omnipresent Creator. As soon as we can eat food again, the body will have the strength to carry that soul around so that it can continue to do the work it came here to do. We will have another chance.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 962)