‘And thus shall he do to the Tent of Meeting, that dwells among them in the midst of their impurity’. These words from the High Priest’s order of service on Yom Kippur, are generally taken to refer not only to the Tent of Meeting but to the Divine Presence itself. Even though Israel maybe impure, G-d still dwells among them. Yet this whole verse contains within it a paradox. It begins with the necessity of purifying the Tabernacle from the impurities and sins of the Jewish people, and ends by asserting that G-d dwells among them, even if they are impure. If so, what is the necessity of this annual purification? Studying this conundrum, one can reach the astounding conclusion that the purification process also, as it were, applies to the Divine Presence. By dwelling among us, it is as if G-d Himself has become tainted by our sins and needs purification and atonement. That would provide a radical, yet compelling, reason for the fact that Yom Kippur in the sources and the liturgy is always referred to in the plural: the Day of Atonements. Yet behind this seemingly far fetched idea, lies an important message. G-d’s Presence can indeed become defiled by our actions. We are the carriers of the Divine Name. When we behave badly it reflects on badly on G-d, and His reputation suffers. Whether we agree with it or not, religion is seen as the representative of the Divine on earth. When religions fail to live up to their ideals and become a source of violence, conflict and oppression, rather than the opposite, the cause of the Divine on earth is damaged. So on Yom Kippur G-d’s reputation also needs cleaning up. We need to repent on this day, not only from the sins that we commit against G-d, but for what is worse: the sins we commit in His name. We need to examine the uses to which we put religion and ask whether we are using our will to fulfil G-d’s word, or misusing His word to achieve our own aims. We today need to ask forgiveness from G-d most of all for what we have done to diminish His presence.

TORAH PREVIEW

KNOW YOM KIPPUR

1. It is a mitzvah to honour Yom Kippur by wearing nice clothes and setting the table.

2. We say five services on this day and confess ten times in our prayers.

3. During the Shema, we recite the second verse, baruch shem, aloud.

4. We call six people to the Torah in the morning.

5. During Musaf we recite the Order of the High Priests service and kneel three times.

6. The final service of the day, Neilah, is unique to Yom Kippur.

7. Havdalah must be made using a candle lit before Yom Kippur

FASTING FACTS

1. On Yom Kippur we are forbidden five things: eating and drinking, washing, anointing, wearing leather shoes and having sexual relations.

2. Sick people in danger of their lives are obligated to eat on Yom Kippur. Others, who may need to take medicine, for example, should consult the Rabbi.

3. Children under nine should not be allowed to fast at all. Between nine and twelve, they should be educated by fasting part of the day. It has been customary for children in the year before their bar-mitzvah to try and complete the fast.

4. It is important for parents to pay close attention to their teenagers in the first years after bar-mitzvah, to ensure they do not become ill. The same is true for the elderly.

5. It is permitted to wash ones hands after going to the bathroom; but only the minimum necessary.

6. Not wearing leather shoes is an important part of fasting on this day and every effort should be made to comply with this.

7. The prohibition of work on Yom Kippur as the same as on Shabbat.