Page 42 - HaMizrachi # 22 Rosh HahHana - Yom Kippur 2020 USA

YAMIM NORA’IM READING

Rabbi Shmuel (Saul) Paves

The

Great Reset

chassid once came to Rebbe turn over a new leaf. I’ll try my best us closer to the Creator and gives
Elimelech of Lizhensk and and I hope You’ll do the same – ת ַ ח ַּ ת הֶז us a deeper perspective on life and
a
s
A ked if he could see how the הֶז.” meaning.
Rebbe performs kapparot. The holy
master told the chassid that if he really The year of 5780 was a very chal- At this time of the year, G-d calls for
wants to see a holy and meaningful lenging one. We experienced bit- a “Great Reset.” For the last decade
kapparot, he should go to Reb Moshe, terness, loneliness and suffering. We and more, mankind has advanced
the innkeeper who lived in another still mourn and regret the passing of in so many fields: technology, med-
town. relatives and friends. Society faces icine, economics, industry, etc. The
a scary and uncertain future. Many feeling of “םי ִ קלֹא ֵּ כ ם ֶ תיִי ְ ה ִ ו” – and you
Obediently, the chassid made his way people would indeed like to delete the became like G-d, seemed appropri-
to Reb Moshe to see how he per- memory of these last few months. ate. Suddenly though, this year it all
formed kapparot on Erev Yom Kippur. came crumbling down. We have lit-
He reached the modest house and saw I doubt if many of us have the courage, erally felt the verse ה ָ מי ִ ל ְּ ב ל ַ ע ץ ֶ ר ֶ א ה ֶ ל ּ ֹת
a man sitting at a table. And this is purity and holiness of Reb Moshe to (Job 26:7), “Who suspends earth over
what he overheard: make this kind of deal with G-d. Even nothingness.”
to describe and list our good deeds
“My dear wife, please bring the two and merits is a little presumptuous, as It’s not all doom and heaviness though.
booklets I keep throughout the year.” the passuk says “If you are righteous, Throughout this pandemic, we have
what do you give Him?” (Job 35:7). also witnessed many positive deeds
Reb Moshe opened the first one and and initiatives. Inspiring acts of
began to cry as he read his list of sins Of course, our Sages teach us that we chessed, people supporting and caring
aloud. “Ribbono Shel Olam, Master of are not allowed to erase nor obliter- for one another and an increase of
the Universe, I know I made a lot of ate the past. On the contrary, we have global online Torah learning.
mistakes throughout the year. I didn’t the obligation to remember and grow
keep your Torah and I transgressed from adversity, as human beings, as a My personal lessons from the pan-
many of your commandments.” nation and as a society. demic are developing a stronger and
deeper connection with G-d, appreci-
He then closed the first book and Rambam says, “Among the ways of ating His World and Magnificence and
spoke in a serious tone: “Master of repentance are, for the penitent to con- a more powerful feeling of belonging
the Universe, I admit my faults and tinue to cry out in tearful supplication to Am Yisrael.
mistakes. But with Your permission, before Hashem” (Hilchot Teshuva 2,
I would like to read from this other 4). “Sins which he had made confession During this coming year, I pray to
book.” Reb Moshe opened the book of one Day of Atonement, one should translate those feelings into actions
and began to describe the suffering of repeat and make a confession on every that will improve our world.
our Exile, and all the poverty, starving, other Day of Atonement, though he
persecutions and isolation the Jewish continues to be a penitent” (ibid. 8).
people had suffered that year. Rabbi Shmuel (Saul) Paves is Community
Repentance consists of a continuous Rav at Minian Israel (formerly Bnei Akiva)
Reb Moshe raised his voice and said, process of recollection, recalling our and Vice-President of Mizrachi Brazil. He
“Dear G-d, I have a deal for you – let’s faults and contemplating the vicissi- was also Ram at Yeshivat Or Israel College
delete my book and Your Book. Let’s tudes of our past. This process brings and Headmaster of Yavne School.

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