Sponsored by Isaac
and Amy Halickman in Honor of Their Children
Allison, Daniel,
Jonathan (Yoni), Elizabeth and Jennifer
On Yom Kippur we read the Haftara which comes from Yishayahu
57:14-58:14. The Haftara is appropriate for Yom Kippur as it teaches us the
proper way to do Teshuva (repent).
Yishayahu makes it very clear that fasting and prayer are not enough. Rather,
we must change our ways and help those who are less fortunate.
In sentences 58:6-12 we are told the proper way to behave as
well as how we will be rewarded:
“Surely this is the fast I choose: open the bonds of
wickedness, dissolve the groups that pervert justice, let the oppressed go free
and annul all perverted justice. Surely you should divide your bread with the
hungry and bring the moaning poor to your home; when you see the naked, cover
him and do not ignore your kin. Then your light will burst forth like the dawn
and your healing will speedily sprout; then your righteous deed will precede
you and glory of God will gather you in. Then you will call and God will
respond, you will cry out and He will say ‘Here I am!’ if you remove from your
midst perversion, finger-pointing and evil speech. And if you offer your soul
to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will shine in the
darkness and the deepest gloom will be like noon. Then God will guide you
always, sate your soul in times of drought and strengthen your bones; and you
will be like a well watered garden and a spring whose waters never fail. Age
old ruins will be rebuilt through you, you will erect generations old
foundations and they will call you ‘repairer of the breach, restorer of paths
of habitation.’”
Unfortunately, even in the modern State of Israel, we still
have to work on many of the points on this list. We still have to deal with the
perversion of justice. The government does not do enough for the poor so each
of us must make an effort to help feed the hungry and clothe the poor. The
challenge of not speaking Lashon Hara (Evil Speech) is also something that
still needs to be worked on.
We learn from here that the message of Yom Kippur is not just
about fasting. The message is about changing our ways and making a commitment
to help others not just during the High Holiday season, but throughout the
year. By doing so, we will bring blessings upon ourselves, the Jewish people
and the
