Drasha Nuggets- Yom

Kippur 5771

Rodney Weiss

Chag: Yom Kippur

Key sources: Midrash Seder Eliyahu Zota and Midrash Rabbah Breishis Parsha 14

Description: The Midrash says that the concept of Aseres Yimei Teshuvah is based
on the ten tests of Avraham and the Ten commandments. Avraham represents the
two concepts of Yom Hakippurim. Chesed, which stands for Bein Adam L’Chaveiro
and Acceptance of Hashem as king which is critical to appreciating the concept of
Yom Hadin. As far as the Luchos we know that Yom Kippur is Yom Shnisnu Luchos
sheniim. It represents the concept of how Hashem forgives us.

Practical Application: Our mission going forward is to eternalize the lessons of

Avraham in our lives. Secondly, never feel that we can never return. The gateway to
Teshuvah is always open.

Key Words: Yom Kippur, Bein Adam L'Chaveiro, Chesed, Teshuvah

Basil Herring

Chag: Yom Kippur

Key Source: Mishna Yoma 6:1; Rabbi Ben Zion Firer- “Panim Chadashot LaTorah”

Description: The Mishna tells us of the Torah’s requirement that the two goats be
identical in appearance, size, value and time of selection. Why?

Rabbi Firer explains that we must first understand the difference between the
symbolisms of the two goats. The se’ir la-Shem represents the righteous and
saintly, who, although not without sin, nonetheless live lives that are
overwhelmingly good. The se’ir la-Azazel, on the other hand, symbolizes the sins of
the wicked who by choice embrace lives of overwhelming immorality.

Therefore, the Torah’s demand that the two goats be equal is to teach us that what
separates good from evil and saint from sinner, is the path that each chooses to
follow.

Practical Application:
In this moral realm, we all start out equals; we make our decisions, and as a result
bear responsibility for our lives. Try as we might, it is not our parents, superiors,
teachers or spouses who make us do what we do – it is we ourselves who stand
before the bar of conscience and consequence.

Key Words: Yom Kippur, Goats, Free Will, Reward and Punishment, Choice

Additional Sources:

• Click here to see the full drasha from “The Jewish Imagination” (p.23-25).

• Good Opening: Mass murderers, like Ivan the Terrible or Charles Manson, on
the surface may look like any other typical middle-class citizen. What sets
them aside from the rest of us? Psychologists profess they are imbalanced
and psychologically sick. However, I believe that a good many of these
people are not at all sick or mental – they rather choose deliberately to kill
and inflict suffering.

• In the face of death it is for us to affirm life – the very names of the parshiyot
teach us “Acharei Mot, Kedoshim Emor” – meaning that after an experience
or incident of death to someone close to you, speak of sanctity of life. The
death should not just redouble our determinations to live lives full of comfort
and convenience, but rather inspire us to now choose to live lives of sanctity
and saintliness.
Yaakov Glasser

Chag: Yom Kippur

Key Sources: Yoma 2a, Yoma 10a-10b, Taanis 30b, Rabbi Lamm drasha

Description: Gemarah explains that the Kohein Gadol was sequestered in a room
known as the Lishkas Palhedrin in advance of Yom Kippur. Gemarah discusses if this
room required a Mezuzah and concludes that it does, because it is a “beis Dirah”,
and even though there were other offices that were “Batei Dirah” in the Beis
HaMikdash, people may assume the Kohein Gadol is in some sort of prison.
Therefore, we affix a Mezuzah.

Why would anyone assume the Kohein Gadol is in a Prison?

The Drasha proceeds to reflect upon the duality of Yom Kippur in being a day of
“simcha” (Taanis 30b) on one hand, and a day of “inyui” on the other. We find that
most people anticipate the “inui” elements of yom kippur, obsessing over the fast
and lengthy tefilah.

Bringing these two ideas together, Yom Kippur actually captures the inner struggle
of relating to Judaism as a restrictive and difficult life vs. focusing upon the
meaning, beauty, and spiritual pleasure of leading a religious life. We find that in
many homes, people reflect more on the “inui”; tuition, school issues, community
politics, shul issues etc., and less upon on the “simcha”.

The reason why one would think that the lishkas palhedrin is a prison, is because to
the outsider (or perhaps even the insider) religious Judaism can seem like a prison.
It is incumbent upon us to project in our homes and in our community the
“Mezuzah” of that holding office, so that our children and community can
appreciate the depth and grandeur of living a religious life.

Concepts can also be applied to yizkor as we endure the trauma of confronting our
loss, but also the simcha of remembering their legacy.

Practical Application: living observant life with enthusiasm and passion will have
a major impact upon those around us, including family and community.

Key Words: Yom Kippur, Prison, Simcha, Inui, Mezuzah

Additional Sources: Rabbi Lamm references the sources in Yoma in his drasha here,
but he applies them in a different direction.
Click here to access full drasha.