ב"ה
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Sunday, 11 Tishrei, 5785

Halachic Times (Zmanim)
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Jewish History

The day after Moses’ descent from Mount Sinai on Yom Kippur, his father-in-law Jethro encountered him attempting to singlehandedly judge the Jewish nation. This prompted him to offer advice:

You will surely wear yourself out…for the matter is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. Now listen to me [and] I will advise you…You shall select from the entire nation men of valor…and you shall appoint over [Israel] leaders over thousands, leaders over hundreds, leaders over fifties, and leaders over tens. They shall judge the nation at all times, and it shall be that any major matter they shall bring to you, and every minor matter they shall judge themselves. This will make it easier for you, and they shall bear [the burden] with you (Exodus 18:18–22. Rashi to ibid. 18:13).

Links: Jethro: Father-in-Law of Moses; Jethro’s Plan

The day after Moses’ descent from Mount Sinai on Yom Kippur, he gathered the nation of Israel and instructed them to construct a Mishkan so that G‑d’s presence would dwell among them. The Jews eagerly brought all of the necessary materials, exceeding what was needed for the task (Exodus ch. 35. Rashi to ibid. 35:1).

Link: What Was the Mishkan (Tabernacle)?

Laws and Customs

Tachnun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are omitted.

It is customary to begin working on -- or at least planning -- the construction of the sukkah immediately after Yom Kippur. Indeed, The Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 30:7) describes the four days between Yom Kippur and Sukkot as a time when the Jewish people are "preoccupied with mitzvot... this one is occupied with his sukkah, this one is occupied with his lulav..."

According to an old Chassidic tradition -- mentioned in the writings of the Baal Shem Tov -- the day after Yom Kippur is referred to as "G-d's Name." (The Baal Shem Tov explains that each of the various divine names describe G-d's involvement in a specific "world" or realm of reality, but the designation "G-d's Name" -- without reference to any particular name -- connotes a divine effluence that transcends all realms and particulars. On Yom Kippur, we access and reveal the very essence of our soul, which is one with the very essence of G-d; thus the day after Yom Kippur carries the designation "G-d's Name.")

Daily Thought

On such a holy, beautiful day, why do we recite a list of sins again and again?

Because one day of the year is not enough. We wish our souls to be united with her Beloved every day of the year.

So we read out loud through this list, and one by one, through G-d’s great kindness and love for us, the stains on the clothing of our souls fade away. 

Then we rise higher, into a yet more intense light in which the stains can still be detected. And so we repeat the list again.

Until, by the end of Yom Kippur, we enter the new year in sparkling, fresh clothing for our souls. The essence-light of Yom Kippur may now shine within us for an entire year.