BOSTONER TORAH INSIGHTS Shabbos Shabboson – Yom Kippur 10 Tishrei 5771 Bostoner Rebbe shlit”a - Yerushalayim Secretariat E–mail: [email protected]

The Shulchan Aruch states that at the end of our Slichos prayers, during Neilah of Yom Kippur, we say “Hashem Hu HaElokim” 7 times (Orach Chaim 623:6). This is followed, in parentheses, by the Minhag [custom] to recite “Shema Yisroel…” once, and “Baruch Shem K’vod Malchuto L’Olam Va’Ed” thrice. However, no explanation can be found in the commentaries of the Shulchan Aruch for reciting Shema Yisroel at precisely this moment. The Rebbe shlit”a suggests an approach which begins with the following Midrash. The Yalkut Shimoni (Yechezkel 358:18) brings the following narrative: ‘Wisdom’ was asked what the punishment for a sinner should be. ‘Wisdom’ replied with the Pasuk, “Evil should pursue sinners” (Mishlei 13:21). Next ‘Prophecy’ was asked the same question. ‘Prophecy’ replied with the Pasuk, “The sinful soul shall die” (Yechezkel 18:4). Then Torah was asked. Torah answered that the sinner should bring a Korban and achieve atonement. Finally, HaKadosh Baruch Hu was asked. He answered that the sinner should do Teshuva and achieve atonement, as it says, “He guides sinners on the way” (Tehillim 25:8), on the path to Teshuva. It is interesting that the Talmud Yerushalmi (Makkos 2:6) quotes the exact same Midrash, but omits the interrogation and response of ‘Torah’. One possible answer could be that since the Talmud Yerushalmi was redacted after the destruction of the Second Beis HaMikdash, individuals could no longer follow the advice of ‘Torah’, as Korbanos were no longer possible. This idea is brought by the Apter Rav on the Pasuk, “Eidosecha Ne’emnu M’ode, LeVaischa Na’ava Kodesh…” [Your ‘Testimony’ is very trustworthy; to your House, a Beautiful Holy Dwelling], which is said as part of the Shir Shel Yom [Song of the Day] for Friday (Tehillim 93:5). The Apter Rav explained that the ‘trustworthy’ advice of the Torah to bring Korbanos for atonement, which is represented in this Pasuk by the word ‘Testimony’, only applies when Hashem’s Holy Beis HaMikdash is extant. Today, we may not be able to bring an actual Korban on the Mizbayach, but our recitation of the Mussaf, the Yom Kippur Korbanos, and learning of the Mishnayos of Yom Kippur acts like a Korban, in line with the Pasuk we read in the Haftorah of Shabbos Shuva, “U’Nishalma Farim Sifateinu” [Let our lips compensate in place of bulls] (Hoshea 14:3). Furthermore, as we say as part of the Tefillah Zakah, before Kol Nidrei, “May the loss of ‘fat’ and ‘blood’ through the fast bring atonement for our various sins. May the fast be regarded as if we had offered our own body upon the Mizbayach, and may it be accepted before You as a Rayach Neechoach [pleasant aroma], like a Korban, like a Korban Olah.” However, without the full benefits of the actual Yom Kippur Korbanos to achieve atonement, as promoted by ‘Torah’, we remain with ‘Wisdom’, ‘Prophecy’ and HaKadosh Baruch Hu. The Rebbe shlit”a wanted to suggest that ‘Wisdom’ corresponds to the Avos: Avrohom, Yitzchak and Yaakov. Each one in the Torah is categorized as Zakain [elder] (Beraishis 24:1; 27:1; 48:10), and as the Gemara teaches in regards to respecting a ‘Zakain’ it states that the word ‘Zakain’ represents one who has acquired ‘Wisdom’, as opposed to one of old age alone which is represented by the word ‘Seyvah’ (Kiddushin 32b). Furthermore, the Avos established the prayers of Shacharis, Mincha and Maariv, corresponding to the Korbanos themselves (Berachos 26b). Thus, even after the three daily prayers of the Avos are recited on Yom Kippur, we cannot be certain that we will receive atonement, as per the guilty verdict proposed by ‘Wisdom’ ‘Prophecy’ would correspond to Neilah, the final prayer of Yom Kippur, since according to Yerushalmi Berachos (Chapter 4) the source for the Neilah service comes from the Navi, “Even if you were to increase your prayer” (Yeshaya 1:15), implying that those who ‘add Tefilah’ are answered. Thus even after our Neilah service, we are not confident about our atonement, due to the denunciation of ‘Prophecy’ Our only true guarantee of atonement is to align ourselves with HaKadosh Baruch Hu himself, who promoted exoneration of sinners through the avenue of Teshuva. Therefore, since ‘there is no one else on which we can rely on; only on our Father in Heaven’, at the most critical last moment, when we conclude the holy day of Yom Kippur, we accept upon ourselves the Yoke of Heaven by declaring, “Shema Yisroel, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echod” May Hashem grant us atonement and may we merit a Gmar Chasima Tova for both Ruchnios and Gashmios in this upcoming 5771, IY”H the year that will bring the Moshiach and the Geulah Shlayma – Amen.