AVOID THE SMOKE SCREEN
The Talmud asks the following question. The Torah tells us that the t’filos (prayers) of the Jewish people are accepted whenever they turn to HaKadosh baruch Hu. Even when there is a heavenly decree against them their t’filos can reverse it. The Talmud then quotes the verse from Yeshayahu, where the prophet Yeshayahu tells his people to turn to seek HaKadosh baruch Hu when He is close by, indicating that there are times when He is not close by.
This seems to be an apparent contradiction from the verse in the Torah that whenever His people turn to Him their t’filos will be heard. The Talmud answers that the Torah’s verse applies when the entire community turns to HaShem. Their relation-ship with HaShem is such that as a community they can reverse HaShem’s decisions. Yeshayahu is discussing the power of an individual who turns to Ha-Shem. For the individual, there is only a dedicated period. Which period pro-vides this opportune time? The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
What special quality do these days have that make it different than the rest of the year?
During this period of the year we recite Psalm 27 in which Dovid haMelech (King David) writes “HaShem is my Light and my Savior, nobody can frighten me.” The Talmud teaches us that Light is a reference to Rosh Hashanah and Savior is a reference to Yom Kippur. Apparently, there is some special protection during this period. What is it?
Our Sages give us an insight to human nature. They teach us that a person will not sin unless he is under the spell of foolishness. Man, when left to himself with a clear mind, would never sin. How could he? Let us equate sin to anything that is harmful; whether it be sweets to a diabetic or wine to an alcoholic. How can a recovering alcoholic ever fall? How can he take a sip or perhaps even a smell of wine, does he not know that his life is at risk? And yet, so many times this happens. The same question can be asked when a person sins. How can he fall, does he not know the consequence? The answer is that there is a spell of darkness over him and his mind becomes confused and shuts out the obvious danger, thereby allowing him to indulge in the sweets and the wine. Man goes into a momentary state of foolishness and that is when he falls.
If we could somehow keep our minds in a constant state of bright clarity we would never sin. So many people struggle with weight loss because when the delicious food appears their mind goes dark and murky; they lose sight of their goal and do not recognize the consequence of indulgence.
Dovid haMelech relates to the reader of Psalm 27 that the period of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is a period where HaShem is his Light and thereby his Savior. He has no need to fear. The Inclination that comes to seduce us can only operate in the dark. This Inclination is like the magician who requires fog and smoke to create his illusions. All he has are illusions; he has nothing of value to offer. His ability to trip us up is dependent upon our confusion. During these ten days if we keep our eyes open there will be enough light to dispel any confusion.
That is the gift of these ten days. They are called the Ten Days of Repentance. During this time we are able to look back at our actions and the decisions we made during the past year with a clarity and see where we went wrong and what needs to be done to avoid doing them again.
Perhaps the reason the individual Jew during this period is able to achieve the closeness to HaKadosh baruch Hu that is usually reserved for the community is because he gains a clarity and awareness. He emerges from his confusion and can communicate directly with HaShem without any assistance.
May we all be inscribed in the Book of Life and have a New Year of good health, livelihood, happiness and an abundance of clarity.
Have very wonderful Shabbos,
Paysach Diskind