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Sunday September 27 
Today is Erev Yom Kippur and we will eat our Seuda Mafseket later today (final meal before the fast).  Rabenu Yona in Shaarei Teshuva (4:8) offers an amazing interpretation of the significance of this meal: “If a person transgressed a negative commandment and repented, he should worry about his iniquity and long for and anticipate getting to Yom Kippur in order that he will be accepted by God, may He be blessed. For His desire is for the life of the soul and the body, and the life of all that has been created - as it is stated (Psalms 30:6), “life is in His will.” And therefore, our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, said (Rosh Hashanah 9a), “Anyone who fixes his meal on the eve of Yom Kippur is as if he had been commanded to fast on the ninth and the tenth [of Tishrei], and fasted on them.” For he has shown joy at the arrival of the time of his atonement; and it will be testimony for him, about his worry about his guilt and about his despondence about his iniquities.”  According to Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein, what Rabenu Yona is suggesting is that the mitzvah is not eating per se and not simply a preparation for the fast but actually part of the teshuva process itself.  The feeling of regret over past mistakes which is so central to teshuva, if experienced fully and sincerely in a healthy way, will actually give way to joy and celebration as you reach Yom Kippur.  If our meal today is built on sincere repentance (even sincere repentance of the next few hours of the day!) then it can set an amazing tone of joy and confidence in Hashem and in the powerful day of Selicha V’Kapara ahead of us.  Repent Well.  Eat Well.  Fast Well.  May Hashem answer all our prayers and grant us all a Gmar Chatima Tova!

Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784