Notes

Golden Calf

After the sin of the Golden Calf, Moses ascends the mountain again, and 40 days later, on the 10th of Tishrei, he returns with the Torah he wrote. This is the day that G-d forgives us for that sin. Thus it is an auspicioius day on which to pray for forgiveness for even an egregious sin.

Joseph’s coat

This too is the day that the brother’s brought Joseph’s blood-stained coat back to his father. On that day both Binah and Dinah died, some say from the news of Joseph’s demise. In addition, every year after, on that day, the brothers begged for forgiveness for their abhorrent action.

10 martyrs

On this day, 10 Rabbinic sages were martyred by the Roman consul in Judea. He executed them for the sin of the 10 brothers, saying that they were guilty of a crime that deserved capital punishment, yet had escaped punishment. So, they forfeited their lives for the sins of the brothers. Some say that they were the 10 souls of the spies. The story of their martyrdom is read on Yom Kippur. Though, in truth, the brothers did not sell Joseph, even though they did think of it, after throwing him into the pit.

Abraham’s circumcision

It is also known as the day Abraham was circumcised.

Satan

On Rosh Ha’Shana, Satan stands as our accuser, reporting to G-d all the sins we have commited, whether intentionally or unintentionally, even those we did not commit, but thought about committing. However, Yom Kippur is Satan’s “day off”. In fact, some say, he even joins the defence on this day. Satan’s (שָׂטָן) gematria is 364 - indicating that he is active 364 days of the year, except for 1 - Yom Kippur.

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• Yom Kippur is meant to be a happy day—serious, but celebratory. It is the day that we can be released from the bondage of our previous sins… if we walk through the process of forgiveness and purification truthfully.

Afflict yourself (5x)

• Why 5?
  • Yom Kippur mentioned 5 times in the Torah

  • Pray 5 times. Normal 3 times for Shabbat + Mussaf (of holidays) + Neilah.

5 afflictions

1. Do not eat nor drink
2. Do not bathe or wash yourself
3. Do not adorn yourself, nor anoint yourself with oils or creams
4. Do not wear shoes (nowadays, leather shoes) - Neilat ha’sandalim
5. Do not be intimate with your spouse

To atone for the 5 levels of soul

• Nefesh:
  Animal soul (animals share this soul) which is contained in the blood. It maintains and cares for our physical being. So we do not drink nor eat.
• Ruach:
  This is the soul that animates the dust of our being, and thus produces sweat. It is associated with our vital organs, like lungs, heart, etc. It is also the place of our feelings and what we offer emotionally to ourselves and the world. Our Sages tell us that water comes out of Ruach (or wind, the air). According to science, the 1st element that appeared in the universe was hydrogen, which is, together with the element, oxygen, which is essential component for life in the air we breathe, makes up water ($H_2O$). In addition, the Ruach “hovered over the deep”, and another association with water, thus we do not wash.
• Neshamah:
  This is the soul that expresses the unique you. It “contains” your gifts, your talents. It is associated with your brain, and your mind, the “person” you are. This is the androgynous soul from which the primordial Adam was created. It was thereafter split into two, one male and one female, thus producing one’s “soul mate”, the other side of our Neshamah. This is the meaning of our true connection to our soul mate. Therefore we abstain from being intimate with that person.
• Chaya:
  It provides the shine, or glamour of our presence. It is sometimes called our “aura”. Thus we do not adorn ourselves, for this is what provides (or expresses) our physical beauty (or glamour)—as we present ourselves to the world around us.
• Yechidah:
  This is the highest soul, the one that is still connected to G-d. For this one, we remove our shoes. For G-d tells Moses, upon encountering him at the Burning Bush, to remove his shoes, as he is walking on sacred ground, being the place that G-d has touched the earth. Also, according to Ezekiel’s vision, the angels are barefoot. The angels’ feet allow them to travel between the worlds, just as our feet takes us to foreign lands.

4 worlds

• Assiyah: the world of physicality, materiality. Also the world of action