Yom Kippur 2002

USY,

One of the biggest concepts spoken of during the Yamim No'raim is the idea of "judgment," of a determination on us being made based on our actions, both good and bad, during the past year. This judgment, during the festival of Yom Kippur, is a divine one. Each of us must, on a personal level, realize how we can become better, and must struggle with that idea through tefillah and acts of teshuvah individually. Each of us must grapple with our own actions, and at the same time allow others to do the same. Too often we, throughout the year, spend a great deal of time judging other people for their actions. Yet, in fact, we can never fully understand other people's actions, and thus our judgment lacks facts, as exhibited by the following story.

"There was once a very rich man, who lived in a big house and had all that he could want in the world. The joy of his life, however, was his only son - and this son was very sick. He flew in doctor after doctor, all in an attempt to find the cure for his son's mysterious illness, but none succeeded. Finally one specialist was found who was capable of curing him. The doctor did so, and warned the father carefully to keep his son away from any meat, because between the illness and the cure the son was now liable to become very sick again if he even tasted it.

After a period of time, the father was called away on business, and the son was left in the care of the hired help. Of course, the father carefully warned them about the doctor's orders... but they were not as careful. With meat in the house, it was inevitable that the little boy (who only knew that he was being denied something he liked very much) would eventually snatch a piece and run off with it when no one was looking.

Of course, the son immediately relapsed, and he was truly close to death when the father was able to find the specialist, cry out his story, and ask that the doctor once again try to save his son. He even swore that should the son live, he would never go out again on business, but that he would personally supervise his son to ensure his health.

With a great effort, the doctor succeeded once again to bring the son back from the the brink of death; and when the son returned to health, the father made a party for all of his close friends and family. However, the father was careful to send his son away from the big hall, where all the guests were sitting and enjoying themselves over a big selection of - you guessed it - meat and chicken dishes for the main course. So all the guests, who knew nothing of the reason for the son's illness or the delicate nature of the cure, were more than a bit amazed that this "cruel father" would send his son out, even though he was crying to be allowed into the room. Only the father understood the full situation."

- Story from Rabbi Yaakov Menken

Judaism recognizes that no matter who a person may be, it is presumptive of us to judge them. Hillel says, "Do not judge your fellow human being until you stand in his situation" (Mishnah Avot 1:5). Each of has our situation, and should be allowed to improve through realizing their own faults, for it allows them to take ownership of their personal growth. I'm sure each of us would want that for ourselves, and therefore we should grant it to others.

I wish you all a safe and easy fast for Yom Kippur. As always, feel free to email me at jsrabin@erols.com or IM me at BigRabe02.

G'mar Chatimah Tovah,

Joshua Scott Rabin,
USY Religion/Education Vice-President