{"id":573,"date":"2014-09-01T17:35:47","date_gmt":"2014-09-01T17:35:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.michaellaitman.com\/no\/?p=573"},"modified":"2015-03-05T20:54:46","modified_gmt":"2015-03-05T20:54:46","slug":"what-is-yom-kippur-the-great-secret-of-the-jews-that-you-dont-know-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.michaellaitman.com\/no\/nyheter\/what-is-yom-kippur-the-great-secret-of-the-jews-that-you-dont-know-about\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Yom Kippur? – The Great Secret of the Jews (That You Don’t Know About)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0View Booklet Online<\/a> | Download<\/a><\/p>\n

The Secret to a Happy Year<\/h4>\n

Each year around this time, Jews wish one another, \u201cHappy New Year.\u201d The High Holy Days are a time of joy, as well as a time of reflection. This year, it seems as though there is much more to reflect on than in past years.<\/p>\n

The past year has been a trying one for all Jews, wherever they live, due to the resurgence of anti-Semitism. So in the spirit of the High Holy Days, let us examine our situation and find the opportunity in the challenge.<\/p>\n

Introspection<\/h4>\n

The war in Gaza took its toll not just on the Israelis and Palestinians. In many ways, it has uncovered and deepened a chasm that exists within Jewish communities the world over. Differences that were once settled peacefully and calmly through debate have now become so poignant and tense that community leaders often opt to avoid any discussion fearing that it will deepen the schism within their already divided community.<\/p>\n

But this murky point in our collective existence is actually an opportunity<\/em>, and the High Holy Days are the best time to begin to set matters straight. Now is a time when people are inclined to introspect is it suitable to reflect on our actions in light of the negative trend toward us in the world.<\/p>\n

We Are Jonah<\/h4>\n

The most important part in the Yom Kippur<\/em> (Day of Atonement) service comes after reading the Torah portion. It is called, Haphtarah<\/em>, and in it, we read selections from the Bible (Tanach<\/em>). On Yom Kippur<\/em>, the text of the Haphtarah<\/em> is the book of Jonah. In fact, in many communities, the wealthy compete over the right to read this Haphtarah<\/em>, as it is known to be a Segula<\/em> (endowing power) for gaining riches.<\/p>\n

Jonah\u2019s story is special because it speaks of a prophet who first tried to \u201cdodge\u201d his mission, but then repented. Another special point about Jonah is that his mission was not to set the people of Israel straight, or warn them of what would happen if they did not mend their ways. His task was to save the great city of Nineveh, whose residents were not Jewish. Today, in light of the rising anti-Semitism, it is more pertinent than ever to reflect on Jonah\u2019s story and the message behind it.<\/p>\n

G-d orders Prophet Jonah to warn the residents of the great city of Nineveh that they have corrupted their ways. Put differently, Jonah must warn them that they have become so alienated and egotistical that their society is unsustainable. The\u00a0prophet\u2019s task was to lead the residents of Nineveh back from their hatred, and into unity and love of others, or they would all be destroyed.
\nHowever, Jonah decides to evade his task and takes to the sea in an effort to escape.<\/p>\n

Just like Jonah, we, Jews, have been evading our mission for the past 2,000 years. And yet, we cannot afford to keep evading it. We have a task. It has been given to us when Abraham united us into a nation based on love of others and mutual guarantee. This is when we learned that our existence depends on our unity, and on being a model of unity for the entire world<\/em>. (For more on that, see my article, \u201cWho Are You, People of Israel<\/a>,\u201d published September 20, 2014 in The New York Times<\/em>.)<\/p>\n

For centuries, our sages and leaders have repeatedly stressed the indispensability of our unity for our prosperity, and even for the prosperity of the world. They also stressed that when we fall into unfounded hatred, calamities and troubles soon pursue us and the world suffers, too.<\/p>\n

But over time, we have lost awareness; we have grown detached and alienated from each other. Worse yet, we have come to ridicule such terms as \u201clight for the nations\u201d and \u201ca chosen people.\u201d We have no recollection of what we were chosen for<\/em>. Our task has been forgotten. But it still awaits, and when we run, there comes a storm.<\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

The Storm<\/h4>\n

Returning to the story, Jonah\u2019s escape from his mission by ship\u00a0caused the sea to roar, and nearly inflicted disaster on everyone\u00a0on board. At the height of the storm, Jonah went to sleep, and\u00a0detached himself from the turmoil around him, while the sailors\u00a0remained on deck and struggled to save the vessel. Gradually,\u00a0they began to suspect that it was someone among them who was\u00a0causing the storm to rage. They cast a lot and discovered that\u00a0that man was Jonah, the only Jew on board.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s plight bears many similarities to Jonah\u2019s ship. The\u00a0world has become a global village, we\u2019re all in one boat, and the\u00a0sailors\u2014namely the residents of the world – are blaming the\u00a0only Jew \u201con board\u201d (the Jewish people) for all their troubles.<\/p>\n

And like Jonah, we are sound asleep. We are beginning to\u00a0wake up to the existence of hatred, but we have not woken up\u00a0to our fate, to our vocation. If we do not wake up very soon, the\u00a0sailors will throw us overboard, just as they did with Jonah.<\/p>\n

The Decision<\/h4>\n

In the story, the sailors make a desperate\u00a0attempt to calm the sea, and by Jonah\u2019s\u00a0order they throw him overboard. Once\u00a0in the water, the storm calms, but a\u00a0whale swallows Jonah. For three days\u00a0and three nights Jonah introspects in\u00a0the fish\u2019s abdomen. He begs for his life\u00a0and resolves to carry out his mission.<\/p>\n

Just like Jonah, each of us carries within something that is\u00a0stirring up the world. We, the people of Israel, are carriers of a\u00a0method of connection, a method for achieving peace throughout\u00a0the world<\/em>. This is the root from which our nation grew\u2014the root\u00a0of unity. This genome ties us into a single nation, and today we\u00a0must rekindle it because wherever we go, this untapped power\u00a0destabilizes the world around us to compel us to unite.<\/p>\n

The unity between us will inspire, and even compel, the\u00a0rest of the nations to do the same, just as now the separation\u00a0among us projects separation to the whole of humanity. This is\u00a0the reason for all our troubles. When we unite, it will endow\u00a0humanity with the energy required to achieve worldwide unity,\u00a0where all people live \u201cas one man with one heart.\u201d So the only question that remains is whether we assume our responsibility,\u00a0or prefer to be thrown overboard, only to subsequently agree to\u00a0carry out our task.<\/p>\n

A Light for the Nations<\/h4>\n

As we described above, Jonah\u2019s role was to turn unfounded hatred\u00a0into brotherly love<\/em>. This is also our role. Nothing has changed\u00a0except the date and the names. And instead of being \u201ca light for the\u00a0nations,\u201d we are trying our best to be like the rest of the nations.<\/p>\n

However, the world needs healing. As more and more people\u00a0and nations subconsciously sense that the Jews are not like the\u00a0rest of the nations<\/em>, that they are responsible for their misfortunes,\u00a0they are beginning to treat us according to their feelings. People\u00a0are reacting instinctively to what is happening to them, and\u00a0naturally turn their anger and frustration against us. The Day\u00a0of Atonement is our chance to truly reflect on our vocation. It is\u00a0an opportunity to make a decision to unite, and be \u201ca light for the\u00a0nations.\u201d<\/em> Only then will the global whirlpool around us subside,
\nhumanity will be at peace, and a canopy (Sukkah<\/em>) of peace will\u00a0spread over all of us.<\/p>\n

In that Sukkah<\/em>, we will all sit as one, without struggle or\u00a0strife, and we will make unity our prime value. Now, as we\u00a0recognize our role, we must begin to raise the tenet, \u201clove your\u00a0neighbor as yourself,\u201d above all values until it becomes a thatch\u00a0that protects us from any trouble and affliction.<\/p>\n

Indeed, if we want to end our troubles and be rid of anti- Semitism, if we desire to turn judgment into mercy, and have a safe and happy life, we must unite, and thus set an example of unity to all the nations. This is how we will bring peace and quiet to the world. Now we can see why people pay so much just to be awarded the privilege of reading the Yom Kippur Haphtarah<\/em>, the book of Jonah.<\/p>\n

Our Sages\u2019 Words about Our Unity, Love, and Our Role toward the World<\/h4>\n

Unity and Love<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our nation\u2019s success depends only on brotherly love, on connecting as one family.<\/p>\n