Rabbi explains meaning of meal before Yom Kippur — Jerusalem Post
In Israel, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitz explained the tradition of a festive meal on the eve of Yom Kippur as an expression of joy at the opportunity for repentance and spiritual renewal. In a column for the Jerusalem Post, he noted that the day is often associated primarily with fear, fasting and prayers, but joy and the desire for spiritual purity should also be important feelings.
The meal before the fast
According to Rabinovitz, on the eve of Yom Kippur, Jews are to eat and enjoy a festive meal, although the following day is devoted to fasting, prayer and self-examination. He cited a provision from the Talmudic tractate Yoma 81b: Scripture regards one who eats and drinks on the ninth day of the month of Tishrei as having fasted on both the ninth and tenth days.
The rabbi also referred to Rabbeinu Yonah's work on the laws of repentance. According to the interpretation cited, the festive meal demonstrates a person's joy at the arrival of the time of atonement and at the same time attests to their awareness of guilt and regret for what they have done. The column's author called this joy a sense of having the opportunity to correct one's actions, purify oneself and start anew.
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Joy as part of Yom Kippur
Rabinovitz drew attention to a verse from Psalm 97:11 about light for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart. In some communities, it is recited after the Kol Nidrei prayer, when Torah scrolls are carried through the synagogue. In the rabbi's view, this is a reminder that Yom Kippur is associated not only with awe, forgiveness and atonement, but also with inner joy.
He cited a saying by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, according to which joy resides in the heart, and a person with a distorted heart cannot rejoice. The author explained that the spiritual work of Yom Kippur consists not only of confessing what one has done, but also of returning to one's own true self and spiritual roots.
