Rabbi's Blog

Every so often there is a change in our lives that requires getting
used to. For example, when a person purchases something new, such as
a new car, there is the feeling that no one else has exactly that
kind of vehicle. Lo and behold, once in possession of the new item we
begin to notice others also have the same or similar type of item.
Before we purchased this car or particular major appliance or
anything new, we may have never noticed that other people also had
the same thing. It can be somewhat comforting to know that this new
purchase is not unique, that we aren’t the only ones with something
so new, and somehow we don’t feel so out of place. We can share our
experiences getting used to this new purchase with others who are
also learning how to use it properly.

Recently, a gate was erected around the perimeter of the Shul
grounds. Many people, including myself, have lamented over the fact
that in today’s day and age we unfortunately need this barrier.. Be
that as it may, I felt awkward thinking that we are the only Shul
that has a fence; that no other Shul, church, school, yeshiva,
apartment complex or office facility has one. Sure enough, as soon as
our gate went into operation, I started noticing just how many other
properties are fenced in with electronic gates that open and close
for vehicles. I now began to compare how they all operate: some have
key cards, others have clickers and some require the person entering
to punch in a code. Usually, in order to enter, a designed mechanism
is put in place, but in order to exit all you need is your car. In
order to leave the Beth Jacob lot, a car must slowly drive up to the
gate, and as soon as the car rides over an indicator the gate begins
to open.

Unless a person has an automatic clicker or someone else opens the
gate, the only way it opens is when you approach and get close enough
to the gate. The driver needs to be careful to go slowly enough and
to approach the gate without driving into the gate, smashing the
car’s bumper. I kept on thinking of this scenario and realized the
closer one gets to the gate, the better chance a person has to open
it up. Another feature of the gate is once it is opened and then
begins to close, it only takes a crossing of the threshold to
activate the open sensor again. This is a function of an electronic
eye that when blocked immediately opens the gate if it hadn’t
completely closed yet.

We see the gate from afar and if it’s open we hope it stays that
way. If we see it closed, we need to inch up in order to cause the
gate to open. I find the imagery of the physical gate opening up by
getting close to it analogous to Yom Kippur or any other day of the
year: getting closer to the gates of heaven will force the gates to
open. The closer we get to the gate, desiring to be nearer to Hashem,
the closer we are to activating the key, causing the heavenly gate to
open. As far as keeping the closing gate open, we need to catch the
eye of the sensor. As the day of Yom Kippur draws near, we can sense
the gates are slowly closing. All we need to do is catch Hashem’s
Eye and the gate will open up for us again. What is it about the
prayer of ‘Neilah’ that is so special?

The Ari z”l says Neilah is the sealing of the decree that was
handed down on Rosh Hashana about man’s reward and punishment.
Therefore, the Rabbis added this Tefilla on the holiest day of the
year, a day of fasting at the very time the gates of heaven are
closing. The purpose of this prayer is to make sure our prayers enter
and ascend in order for Hashem to accept them willingly and fulfill
our requests, forgiving us all our sins and iniquities. How good and
incredible it would be to shed a few tears to arouse mercy in the
upper world because all of the gates are closed with the exception of
the Shaarei Dim’ah, the gates of tears. Even if the ultimate
judgment is cut and sealed for bad, chas veshalom, tears have the
force to turn the judgment around for good. The Zohar states,
“VaTireihu V’Hinei Naar Bocheh, Miyad VaTachmol Alav”. “And
He saw the young boy crying and immediately He had compassion and
mercy upon him”.

Chazal, the Rabbis of blessed memory, tell us “there is no
sin/iniquity in the world that can prevent and hold back our prayers
more than the sin of robbery/stealing. Therefore, the Anshei Knesses
Hagedola, the Men of the Great Assembly who organized and put
together the prayer book and Machzor, mentioned a very specific
concept in Neilah: “L’Maan Nechdal MeiOshek YaDeinu”: In order
that we remove our hands from stealing”. All other sins are
mentioned in generalities, not specifics. Only theft is specific.
Therefore, if a person thinks perhaps he is guilty of stealing from
someone, he needs to be moved to repent, particularly when saying
these words. The commentary Avudraham explains that Hashem does not
judge us at the very moment we sin during the year, rather He waits
until Yom Kippur. Perhaps we will regret our sinning and return in
the meantime. At that moment he should accept upon himself that
immediately after Yom Kippur he will return the money to the person
he owes from whom it was taken, or at least appease the person right
then he they is close by.

Chamas, violence, wrong, is connected to stealing during the time of
Noach. Stealing was the straw that broke the camel’s back as shown
when Hashem could no longer endure the rampant stealing during the
time of Noach, so Hashem destroyed the world. The entire day is
incomplete if the sin of Gezel - stealing - is still on our chart,
but there is a reference to it and reminds us to take care of it at
the very last moments of the day. Chazal teach us HaKol Holeich Achar
HaChisum: everything goes after the conclusion. A weak ending of the
day reflects poorly to the rest of the day, but a strong ending of
the day demonstrates that the entire day was strong; the end reflects
the beginning and middle.

Finally, the intent of Neilah is not just to focus on our last
prayers of the holy day. I believe Neilah and the closing of the
gates is a sign for us to try to keep those gates open to us
throughout the entire year. Neilah is the time we catch God’s eye,
the time we want to draw God’s attention to us to show Him we want
to come close to Him. We approach the gates slowly and carefully,
giving us the opportunity to open them up and then we grab Hashem’s
attention to keep the gates open for us so long as we remain close to
Him.

May we all be Zocheh to reach the Gates of Heaven this Yom Kippur and
get as close as possible in order to attain Slicha and Kapparah for
us and all of Klal Yisrael. Amen!

Ah Gut Yom Tov and easy meaningful Tzom

Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky