When did Yom Kippur first come to be?
When the people broke their word by worshipping a calf of gold, Moses told G‑d:
“Forgive them. And if You do not, erase me from Your book that You have written.”
Meaning:
“I know You want to forgive them. You love them no matter what. You loved them before, when they had all but abandoned You in Egypt. And You love them now as well.”
“What has occurred since then? That you have given them your Torah. So that it’s only this book, your Torah, that stands in the way.”
“And if so, I want no part in such a book.”
So it was that then, through Moses, that G‑d wrote a day of forgiveness into His book.
Because the people are not here for the sake of keeping this Torah. The Torah is here to lift up the people.
It is given to us out of love. Unconditional love. And that is Yom Kippur.
Yom Kippur is referred to as the day of judgment. We reflect upon our human relationships over the past year. We recognize where we failed when we harmed another, cut ties through conflict or didn't convey the divine message of love through example.
Yom Kippur provides the opportunity to ask G_d for forgiveness so that we can start the new year with all our debts to G_d cleared.
We are given a fresh start to implement the resolution for the coming year. Another chance to live by the divine law to love another as myself.
Now that we live in the era called the Last Generation, when the world begins to move in a new direction, we must accept the mission to reveal the divine law to all humanity. In this way we bring peace and unity to a chaotic world.
Good Afternoon, Brenda
I appreciate your heartfelt words of wisdom.
"Within our awe we only know that all we own we owe. Few are guilty, but all are responsible. Just to live is a blessing, just to live is holy" (Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel).
L'Shanah Tovah Ve'Tehatemu