One Day, One People

At the very beginning of Yom Kippur, before Kol Nidrei, we declare: “With the sanction of the Omnipresent, and with the sanction of the congregation, by authority of the Heavenly Court, and by authority of the earthly court, we hereby grant permission to pray with those who have transgressed.” All agree that on this day, there are no differences between Jews; they all stand united as one in the presence of G-d.

Why must we start this holiest day of the year by mentioning the sinners? Each of the Jewish festivals has a particular theme that is the emphasis of the day. One of Yom Kippur’s themes is Jewish unity.

When rabbis deliver their sermons on the Shabbos before Yom Kippur, Shabbos Shuvah, it would be most appropriate to include the theme of Jewish unity – not only to “love your fellow,” and not only to “love your fellow as yourself,” but to unite together as one soul. And this unity will also result in the entire Jewish people together receiving all G-d’s blessings, beginning with the verdict for a good and sweet year, with only revealed good.