The eve of Yom Kippur

Today is 9th of Tishrei, 5771

What should we do today in preparation for the holiest day of the year?

EATING: In the eve of Yom Kippur, we should eat and drink more than usual in preparation for the fast. This both gives us strength for the fast and substitutes for the usual Yom Tob(or this year: Shabbat) meals, which cannot be eaten on Yom Kippur because of the fast.

TSEDAKA: It is customary to give extra charity on the eve of Yom Kippur. Practicing charity is one of the best ways to show our commitment to kindness and righteousness.

ASKING FORGIVENESS: Sins committed against another person cannot be atoned for on Yom Kippur, until one first seeks forgiveness from the person he/she has wronged. Thus - it is customary to go visit (or at least call) friends, family, and any person whom one may have somehow wronged or spoken ill of in the past year and ask forgiveness. Special attention should be given in asking forgiveness from our parents.

FORGIVING: Many people practice the beautiful custom of 'forgiving' everyone they know, removing any bad feeling that might be harbored in one's heart. Parents should also forgive their children in their hearts, thus saving them from the serious eventual transgression of Kibud Ab vaEm.

MIKVEH: It is customary for men to immerse in a Mikveh (ritual bath) on Ereb Yom Kippur. This reminds us of the kohen gadol who would purify himself before starting his Holy service (Abodat Yom haKippurim).

KAPPAROT: There is a custom to do Kapparot.

See link below. In Great Neck, N.Y, Kippur starts at 6:43 PM.

Before that time we should do

1. The Seudat haMafseket (last meal before Kippur)

2. Candle lighting. This year women say when lighting the 2 candles... lehadlik ner shel Shabbat veYom haKippurim. The Mashadi custom is to say also Shehecheyanu.

YOM KIPPUR: What should we do today?

Halakha of the Day
9th of Tishri, 5771
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Today, September 17th, is the eve of Yom Kippur.
What should we do today in preparation for the holiest day of the year?
EATING: In the eve of Yom
Kippur, we should eat and drink more than usual in
preparation for the fast. This both gives us strength for the
fast and substitutes for the usual Yom Tob(or this year: Shabbat) meals, which
cannot be eaten on Yom Kippur because of the fast.
TSEDAKA: It is customary
to give extra charity on the eve of Yom Kippur. Practicing charity is
one of the best ways to show our commitment to kindness and righteousness.
ASKING FORGIVENESS: Sins committed against another person cannot
be atoned for on Yom Kippur, until one first seeks forgiveness from the person
he/she has wronged. Thus - it is
customary to go visit (or at least call) friends, family, and any person whom
one may have somehow wronged or spoken ill of in the past year and ask
forgiveness. Special attention should be given in asking forgiveness from our
parents.
FORGIVING: Many
people practice the beautiful custom of 'forgiving' everyone they know, removing
any bad feeling that might be harbored in one's heart. Parents should also
forgive their children in their hearts, thus saving them from the serious eventual
transgression of Kibud Ab vaEm.
MIKVEH: It is customary
for men to immerse in a Mikveh (ritual
bath) on Ereb Yom Kippur. This reminds us of the kohen gadolwho would
purify himself before starting his Holy service (Abodat Yom haKippurim).
KAPPAROT: There is a custom to do Kapparot. See link below.
In Great Neck, N.Y, Kippur starts at 6:43 PM. Before that time we should do
1. The Seudat haMafseket (last meal before Kippur)
2. Candle lighting. This year women say when lighting the 2 candles... lehadlik ner shel Shabbat veYom haKippurim. The Mashadi custom is to say also Shehecheyanu.
-TODAY THERE IS NO KIDDUSH AT ANY TIME-
Tomorrow, Yom Kippur ends (Habdala) at 7:50PM. Shofar at 7:40PM
May we all be inscribed in the book of forgiveness.

May we all be sealed in the book of life and good health, blessing and success.
Rabbi Yosef Bitton
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Click here for Kapparot
Rabbi Yosef Bitton. YMJC | 130 Steamboat Rd. | Great Neck | NY | 11024

Vidduy, the mitzva of Yom Kippur

8th of Tishri, 5771

At the individual level, the most prayer of Yom Kippur's prayer is the Viduy. Viduy literally means 'confession'.

The Viduy is the description of the sins and transgressions we might have committed and for which we express regret and decide to keep away from.

In the Viduy we clearly say and 'recite' our transgressions, in the same way that one who is addicted to alcohol has to articulate and say (not think!) "I'm an alcoholic" as one of the firsts step toward his cure.

Only when we are able to articulate and utter our sins, it is considered that we have finally admitted them, and the Almighty, then, accepts our apologies and forgive us.

The Viduy also helps us identify wrongdoings that we might have forgotten or we might have unconsciously suppressed.

Unlike other Tefilot, it is absolutely imperative to understand exactly what we are saying in the Viduy. Or else, regret and contrition for our transgressions will not take place. Therefore, it is not only permitted but almost mandatory to say the Viduy in English if one does not understands Hebrew.

We say the Viduy several times on Yom Kippur and we say it in plural, confessing, many times, transgressions that we clearly know we have not committed. This teaches us that our moral responsibilities go beyond our personal realms - when we see a friend acting wrongly we are commanded by the Torah to privately and politely rebuke him or her, and when we don't, it is considered as if we share their wrongdoings.

The Viduy is written in Hebrew, in alphabetical order.

In the following text - a short version of a Viduy- I present a non literal translation of the Viduy, which will hopefully help us to understand the meaning and ideas of the Viduy.

This text could be used in Yom Kippur alongside the other Viduyim, especially by those who don't have an English Machazor.

May we all be inscribed in the book of forgiveness.

May we all be sealed in the book of life and good health, blessing and success.

Rabbi Yosef Bitton

Pregnancy and Yom Kippur

The following information is intended as an educational guideline for normal and healthy pregnancies. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal medical advice.

A woman in labor is exempted from fasting on Yom Kippur.

A pregnant woman, however, should observe the fast normally, provided she and the baby are in good health. Nevertheless, if during Yom Kippur she feels sick (especially if she is vomiting or having other signs of dehydration) she should break the fast and eat immediately (See below: how to eat). However, mild dizziness and nausea that can be coped with, by lying down on a couch or a bed, are considered normal, and should be endured.

If you were instructed by your doctor to eat on Yom Kippur you should do as follows:

1. Eat a portion of food that weights less than 1 oz. (an ounce is 30 grams). After you finished the first portion you should wait ten minutes and eat a second portion less than 1 oz. portion. You could do this, as many time as you need until you recover.

2. For drinking, you should drink up to a little more than 1 oz. Then, wait 5 minutes and drink 1 oz. again, and so forth.

Once you feel better, you should continue the fast.

To measure "1 ounce" it is advisable to use the plastic 1 oz. liquor shot cups (Kiddush little plastic cups).

When you eat or drink on Yom Kippur for medical reasons, you do not need to fast another day.

VERY IMPORTANT

Dr Jessica Jacob O.B. explains that according to research done on healthy pregnant women, there is no evidence that fasting would bring any complication to the mother or her baby. Three years ago, Dr J. Jacob gave a very detailed lecture in our community on 'Pregnancy and Yom Kippur'. It is highly recommended to listen to her lecture where she explains the studies that were done on this subject. She also explains why would a doctor advise a pregnant woman against fasting, how to cope with discomfort and when a pregnant woman MUST break the fast, etc.

Click here to listen to Dr Jacob's lecture

Who is exempted from fasting on Yom Kippur?

6th of Tishri, 5771

There are 5 prohibitions on Yom Kippur. All coming from the biblical verse: 'On the 10th of Tishri veinitem et nafshotekhem' (Vaikra 23,27) you should deprive your bodies...

The five prohibitions are:

(1) Eating and drinking, (2) washing our body (3) anointing our body (4) having marital relations and (5) wearing leather shoes.

Let's talk about fasting.

Everyone has to fast on Yom Kippur, except the following:

1. Minors: a boy or a girl younger than 9 years old should not make any type of fast, even for a couple of hours. When they reach 9 they fast for a couple of hours, but only if they are in good health. Every year the parents should encourage them to fast for a little longer so they will slowly get used to the idea of a complete day of fasting. When the son or daughter reaches 11 years, they should try to fast the whole day if they are in good health. A healthy girl from the age of 12 and a healthy boy from the age of 13 are obligated to fast as everybody else.

2. Mothers: After childbirth, during the first 3 days, a mother should not fast. The same rule applies for the 72 hours after a miscarriage. After the first 72 hours from the day of childbirth until the 7th day after birth, if the mother says that she needs to eat, she should eat. After the 7th day she has to fast, unless otherwise indicated by a reliable doctor. A woman in labor cannot fast.

3. Sickness: When one is sick or weak because of his age, or someone getting some kind of medications, should get the advice of a reliable physician to see if he needs to eat and/or take his medication. After talking to a Doctor a Rabbi could help him to establish, based on the doctor's advice, how to eat his food. In a case of a chronic illness, such as diabetes, and especially in a case where there is a risk (Safek) of some kind of danger to someone's life, one should break the fast even if one was not able to consult with a physician.

4. According to Jewish Law, if a Chole -a sick person- asserts that he or she needs to eat, he or she should be fed, even without asking a Doctor.

Tomorrow, BH we will deal with 'Pregnancy and Yom Kippur' and 'How to eat on Yom Kippur when you need to'.

YOM KIPPUR: Who is exempted from fasting?

6th of Tishri, 5771   Halakha of the Day There are 5 prohibitions on Yom Kippur. All coming from the biblical verse: 'On the 10th of Tishri veinitem et nafshotekhem' (Vaikra 23,27) you should deprive your bodies... The five prohibitions are: (1) Eating and drinking, (2) washing our body (3) anointing our body (4) having marital relations and (5) wearing leather shoes. Let's talk about fasting. Everyone has to fast on Yom Kippur, except the following:   1. Minors: a boy or a girl younger than 9 years old should not make any type of fast, even for a couple of hours. When they reach 9 they fast for a couple of hours, but only if they are in good health. Every year the parents should encourage them to fast for a little longer so they will slowly get used to the idea of a complete day of fasting. When the son or daughter reaches 11 years, they should try to fast the whole day if they are in good health.  A healthy girl from the age of 12 and a healthy boy from the age of 13 are obligated to fast as everybody else.   2. Mothers: After childbirth, during the first 3 days, a mother should not fast. The same rule applies for the 72 hours after a miscarriage. After the first 72 hours from the day of childbirth until the 7th day after birth, if the mother says that she needs to eat, she should eat. After the 7th day she has to fast, unless otherwise indicated by a reliable doctor. A woman in labor cannot fast.   3. Sickness: When one is sick or weak because of his age, or someone getting some kind of medications, should get the advice of a reliable physician to see if he needs to eat and/or take his medication. After talking to a Doctor a Rabbi could help him to establish, based on the doctor's advice, how to eat his food.  In a case of a chronic illness, such as diabetes, and especially in a case where there is a risk (Safek) of some kind of danger to someone's life, one should break the fast even if one was not able to consult with a physician. 4. According to Jewish Law, if a Chole -a sick person- asserts that he or she needs to eat, he or she should be fed, even without asking a Doctor. Tomorrow, BH we will deal with 'Pregnancy and Yom Kippur' and 'How to eat on Yom Kippur when you need to'. 'Everyone falls'

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YOM KIPPUR: Time to say 'I'm sorry'

5th of Tishri, 5771

In preparation for Yom Kippur, we should examine if we had harmed anyone: a friend, a colleague or a member of our family. Yom Kippur and Viduy (confession) are good to atone for those transgressions between us and God. (Shabbat, Kashrut, Tefilin, etc). But on Yom Kippur we are not forgiven for the offenses made toward another human being, unless we ask first for their forgiveness. Therefore, the most important preparation for Yom Kippur is to reflect in our minds whom we might have harmed and ask for his or her forgiveness.

To ask for forgiveness is probably one of the most challenging tasks we might need to do in our lives. Because we need to admit (and say): "I WAS WRONG".

What happens if the victim does not want to forgive us? "He should take along three men to intercede for him and plead with the offended to forgive him. If necessary, he must repeat and try three times as his penitence. ... If he asks forgiveness three times and the other refuses to forgive, he need not return again..." (Meam Loez)

However, if one offended his father or mother, there is no limit to the times he needs to go and ask for their forgiveness.

In the same way we expect other people (and God!) to forgive us, we need to be easy to forgive and forget. "Before going to sleep at night we should say: if anyone has injured or offended me in any way, I forgive him completely and I bear no hatred toward him. One thus fulfills the commandment 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'