With Yom Kippur fast approaching (the holiday begins several minutes before sunset on Tuesday, Oct. 12, and ends the night of Wednesday, Oct. 13), Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis all over the world are putting the finishing touches on their sermons and other remarks as they prepare to welcome Jewish families and individuals into the embracing and inspiring services that has become the hallmark of High Holidays with Chabad.
Rabbi Yochanan Posner has gained local acclaim for the “interpretive services” he conducts alongside the flagship services at Lubavitch Chabad of Skokie in Illinois, just north of Chicago. The day before Yom Kippur, he was sitting in his study with a strong cup of coffee, deeply engrossed in the High Holiday prayerbook (Machzor).
Q: If someone is attending services for the very first time, what advice would you give them?
A: First of all, I would advise that they call the shul in advance, and make sure they have the date and times right and to give the shul a heads up. (Although we do not charge for attending, it is very helpful to know approximately how many people will come so that we can put out enough chairs and books.) It’s a long service, so they may want to plan to attend just specific parts this year. Some people’s highlights are Kol Nidre on the first night, Yizkor the next day (the memorial service for departed loved ones), the rabbi’s sermon or Neilah on the following evening.
Q: What part of the 25 hours of holiday observance is actually the most important?
A: People tend to think the most important thing is to hear shofar at the end of the day. The truth is that the mitzvah to hear shofar is on Rosh Hashanah, not Yom Kippur. The most important thing to do this day is to fast and not work. Any services you attend enhance that—the more, the better.
Q: And what part of the service resonates with you personally?
A: I feel a deep affinity with the words of Ki Anu Amecha, in which we describe our relationship with G‑d in many metaphors: a flock and a shepherd, a nation and a king, and others. To me, this is the essence of the day, establishing our loving and personal relationship with our Creator. We read a whole thick book, and we say so many different things. During the course of the services, each individual finds the parts to emphasize and remember.
Q: How did you develop your style of conducting services, in which you accompany the Hebrew liturgy with a running English commentary?
A: It all began when I was in Namibia, running services with a colleague of mine. I saw that many of the people were not “connecting” with the services since they didn’t really know what was going on. I got up and started extemporizing. When my wife (Yona) and I settled in Skokie, I began doing this every year, complementing the more traditional services that already exist.
Q: Every year, you come with a fresh supply of jokes, stories, metaphors and insights. How do you prepare?
A: The truth is that it takes a lot of late nights and very early mornings. I have a lot of books that I have collected over the years, and I cull insights and ideas from about 30 of them well in advance of the holiday itself.
Q: Thirty is a lot. Is there one that you would recommend to the layperson who wants to come to services prepared?
A: If I had to recommend just one, I would choose the two-part set called Twerski on Machzor by Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski. They are small booklets, but they are packed with moving stories, wise explanations, thought-provoking ideas and more. There is a lot of personal reflection there, and you get a beautiful picture of his own childhood growing up as the child of a Chassidic rebbe.
Q: Most of the people at your services are not regular synagogue-goers. What do you suggest they do when services start to seem long?
A: When I think people are beginning to zone out, I like to tell a joke. It’s also important for people to know that they can take a break if they need to. Walk around, get some fresh air and come back in when they are ready.
We have a little board hanging in the front of the sanctuary where we display the page numbers, so no matter when you walk in, you can find the page and jump right into the swing of things.
Q: Any advice for the parents of young kids, who get restless quickly?
A: These days, so many synagogues have children’s programs, many of which are excellent. If young ones are not fasting, prepare meals and snacks ahead of time. Also talk to them beforehand about what you expect from them, which prayers you want them to attend and for how long. That way, they can feel good about their observance without having to go overboard.
Q: Can you share an inspiring thought you’ll be telling on Yom Kippur?
A: In the High Holiday prayers, we say “Remember us for life, King who wishes the life . . . ” Note that we just want “life,” and G‑d wishes for “the life.” Sometimes, we get so myopic that all we want to do is live another day, not remembering why. G‑d, however, wants us to live the life—a life that is enriched by spirituality, Torah, mitzvahs, kindness and goodness.
To find High Holiday services, click here.
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