From The Rabbi’s Study…Shabbat, October 3, 4, 2025/11, 12 Tishrei 5786
Yom Kippur starts with Kol Nidrei on Wednesday night: Light your Yahrzeit candles first, then the Yom Tov candles, and recite the Shehehe’yanu (Baruch Atah…Ha’olam Shehehe’yanu v’ higiyanu laz’man hazen).
If one has health issues, you should not Fast but follow your doctor’s orders. G-d will judge you on your intentions. G’mar Hatimah Tovah/May you be sealed in the Book of Life.
Torah continues with the song of Moses, providing a final review of Israel’s history. Moses is told to climb Mount Nebo, from which he will be able to see the Land of Israel. Then he will die, without entering the land.
Judaism concepts and values are to remember the days of old and Tzidduk Hadin/justification of G-d’s judgement.
Moses, in his poetic declaration to the Israelites, tells the people to remember the days of old and consider the years of ages past (Deuteronomy 32:7). Rashi suggests that we should remember and consider history in order to be conscious of what may happen in the future. Others suggest that by remembering the past, history will help shape the future and not repeat the disasters of the past. As George Santayana once wrote: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to fulfill it.”
Rashi (Shlomo ben Isaac) born in Troyes, France in 1040 C.E., wrote commentaries (notes) explaining nearly all the books of the Torah and Talmud. Rashi was 25 years old when he started his brilliant work. He taught his daughters the Torah and Talmud. His daughters married scholars and along with other students added to Rashi’s work. They were called the Tosafits (those who add), and when their work was completed, it was like a new Talmud (Ashkenaz).
I sometimes write about many scholarly rabbis and sages, and I believe Rashi is who you see and read his commentaries on the bottom of the Chumash (Five Books of Moses).
The Haftarah connection to the Torah is from the Second Book of Samuel. It contains a song of thanksgiving and a farewell song by King David, who traces Divine Providence in his own escapes from persecution and renders thanks to G-d for his deliverance and victories.
As I am writing this Drash, we pray for the release of all hostages and for those who died to be returned to their loved ones by Hamas, the end of the war in Gaza, and Hamas. May this Yom Kippur, when we pray for our sealing in the Book of Life from G-d, may He hear our prayers for ALL Israel and the Jewish people in the diaspora to have SHALOM!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
