Rabbi Daniel: Thoughts on Torah

Dear Friends, 
In Parshat Vayelech we read:  

חִזְק֣וּ וְאִמְצ֔וּ אַל־תִּֽירְא֥וּ וְאַל־תַּעַרְצ֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם כִּ֣י ׀ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ ה֚וּא הַהֹלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹ֥א יַרְפְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א יַעַזְבֶֽךָּ׃ {ס}         

Be strong and resolute, be not in fear or in dread of them; for it is indeed your God יהוה who marches with you: [God] will not fail you or forsake you.
 
Why do we need to be reminded to be strong and resolute?  The truth is life brings two realities that require these character traits:
The first is the reality of hardship.  Life can break our backs and sometimes the outcome is really tough to take.  
The second is hard work.  Sometimes to get to exultation there is build up.  We start at a low point.  There is uncertainty, there is lack of knowledge about the outcome.  We hope and pray that all will be well but the meter might show black and red before we end up in the clear.  
 
This is a big part of Yom Kippur, and it is exemplified by the Avodah service that we recite during the Musaf service on the holiday.  What is this reenactment of the service of the high priest?  What are we supposed to take from it

Imagine moments of intense drama and uncertainty.  The first thing that comes to my 

mind is watching a ten pitch at bat in a baseball game where you are hoping and praying for even just a base hit to drive in a run.  

On a much higher scale we have Yom Kippur when the High Priest is entering the Holy of Holies with the fate of the entire people resting on his shoulders.  He is even wearing a white cord on his priestly robes so that if he expires while performing his duties the congregation can pull his body out of the chamber.  This is meant to be describing a moment of ultimate vulnerability.  

Have you ever felt that intense sense of drama?  A moment where the outcome could go either way, and the only way you get the outcome you desire is if the egg goes one direction and not the other?  

When we bow to the ground during that Avodah service we are submitting to the drama of the moment recognizing that our fate is out of our hands.  

And when the High Priest exits the Holy of Holies and the people have been exonerated there is meant to be no greater high.  

Here are the words of the piyut (liturgical poem) that was written to be chanted upon the High Priest’s return from his task:

Verily, how glorious was the appearance of the high priest, when he came forth safe from the holy sanctuary, without any evil occurrence.
Even as the expanded canopy of heaven, was the countenance of the priest. 
As the lightning that proceedeth from the splendour of the Chajoth (angels) was the countenance of the priest. 
As the beautiful blue thread in the fringes of the four corners of the garments, was the countenance of the priest. 
As the appearance of the bow, in the midst of the cloud, was the countenance of the priest.
As the majesty with which the Creator attired the patriarchs, was the countenance of the priest.
As the rose in the midst of a delightful garden, was the countenance of the 
priest.
 
Here is a recording of the tune we will use for these few minutes of intense exultation with which I hope we can capture the rapture of this collective moment on Yom Kippur: 

Ma'arei Cohen

I pray you will be there to share it with us.  

Gmar Chatimah Tova. 

Rabbi Daniel