This class was presented on Tuesday, 21 Elul, 5784, Parshas Nitzavim-Vayeilech, September 24, 2024, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

I Can Live My Entire Life with a Superficial Identity; Teshuvah is Realignment

Women's RH/YK Class

Stepping Into Your Highest Soul Frequency: No Rupture, No Void, No Need for Logic

Does Yom Kippur Cause You Anxiety? -&nbsp;Live Blunt conversation with Rabbi YY, Motzai Shabbos, Parshas Haazinu, September 23, 2023.

How Can We Experience the Bliss of Yom Kippur?

Rabbi YY in Conversation with Trauma Victims

Yom Kippur Without Anxiety

Forgiveness Should Not Create Fear

During the ten days from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur, known as the “Ten days of Teshuvah,” we recite each morning one of the most beautiful and moving chapters of Psalms, ch. 130. It contains a most enigmatic verse, which is repeated many times during the prayers of Selichot, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

<h3 dir="rtl">כִּי עִמְּךָ הַסְּלִיחָה לְמַעַן תִּוָּרֵא.</h3>

“But you offer forgiveness, so that we might learn to fear you.”

The logic is counterintuitive. People who offer forgiveness are less feared, not more feared. If I know that you are the “forgiving type,” I fear you less, not more. What then does King David mean “But you offer forgiveness, so that we might learn to fear you?”

A Tale of Two Bank Managers

Rabbi Schnuer Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812), known as the Alter Rebbe, the Baal HaTanya, explained it with a metaphor from the world of economics.<a href="javascript: void(0);" id="_edn1" name="_ednref1" onclick="ty.scrollTo('_ednref1')">[1]</a> The entire metaphor is his; the specific example is mine.

It is 2006. The real estate market is booming. You took a 100 million dollar loan from the bank to renovate a massive complex in Manhattan which you will sell and earn a profit of 50 million. Not bad for a nice Jewish boy who is ADD and a college dropout. Suddenly, the market collapses, you can’t sell your condos, and you are left with a major debt. You meet with the bank manager. He declares: We want the entire debt paid up—the 100 million with all the interest, as per the schedule we agreed upon. On the 15th your first payment of 1.5 million is due.

You go home, and you know in your mind, there is no way you can do this. Even if you were to stand on your head for a month, you simply cannot come up with this money. So what do you do? Mentally, you give up. You ignore the monthly invoices, notices, summons, and warnings. You get your house off your name, you push off the hearings till 2033, and you go for a good massage. You tell your wife, the guy is crazy, and you don’t even think of it anymore. There is nothing better you can do.

But suppose another scenario: The bank manager says, okay, we all got hit badly. We are all in a big mess. We all need to bite the bullet. You were wiped out; we were also wiped out. Let’s work this out fairly and lovingly. How about, we cut the loan by 30 percent? We remove all interest. Let’s make this work for both of us. I need you to work with me. What would be a feasible schedule of payment?

Ah, now you get scared... Now you need to go home and you need to figure it out. Now you need to come up with some money. He is being such a mentch, you can’t betray him. You need to show up with payment.

This, says the Alter Rebbe, is the meaning of the verse, “But you offer forgiveness, so that we might learn to fear you.” If G-d demanded full compensation for all our mistakes, if He demanded that we pay up in full, with interest, then we would not fear Him; we would give up on Him.

It is like the child who can never please their parent. Whatever he does, it is never enough, and every mistake is highlighted. At some point, such children give up completely. “If I have no hope of ever getting it right, why try? If I will always be criticized, why bother?” The child, in a mixture of cynicism, rebellion, pain, and despair, just severs the relationship.

“But you offer forgiveness, so that we might learn to fear you,” King David says. G-d forgives. He never asks us to be perfect, only to be accountable. He asks of us to meet Him half way. He tells each of us on Yom Kippur: I want to make this work for YOU. I want you to live the most meaningful, beautiful, successful, powerful and happy life you can. I yearn for you to help Me make your life the ultimate success story.

Now we really have to go into our hearts and mend our mistakes, fix our wrongs and resolve to live a purer and holier future.

“But you offer forgiveness, so that we might learn to fear you.”

<a href="javascript: void(0);" id="_ednref1" name="_edn1" onclick="ty.scrollTo('_edn1')">[1]</a> Quoted by his grandson, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch, the Tzemach Tzedek (1789-1866) in Tehilim Yahel Or chapter 130. The metaphor is further explained in Maamar Ki Eimcha Haslicha 5709 (1949); Maamar Ani Ledodi 5729 (1969).

If I&rsquo;m Never Enough, I Give Up

If I’m Never Enough, I Give Up

Yom Kippur Essay

A Tale of Two Bank Managers: The Essence of Yom Kippur

This class was&nbsp;presented on Tuesday, Parshas Haazinu, 4 Tishrei, 5784, September 19, 2023, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

A Seven-Step Program Toward Finding Serenity & Purpose

Women's Yom Kippur Class

Tuesday Women's Class - Like Clay in the Hand of the Potter

YY Moment

The Power of Teshuvah

Nothing Can Cancel a Mitzvah

This class was presented on Tuesday, Parshas Ki Savo, 17 Elul, 5782, September 13, 2022, at 18 Forshay, Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

Has Our Generation Become Too Obsessed With Our Emotions?

Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur Women's Class

IFS and Judaism

This weekly women&#39;s class was&nbsp;presented on Tuesday Parshas Ha&#39;azinu, 8 Tishrei, 5781, September 14, 2021, live at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

My Greatest Sin Is Not Believing How Good I Am

Yom Kippur Women's Class

The Teshuvah of Our Generation

YY Moment/Yom Kippur

Kol Nidrei in the Forest

G-d Forgives

This is a text based class,&nbsp;learning a sicha in Likkutei Sichos vol. 4, and is the second class in this series. It was&nbsp;presented on Parshas Vayeilech, 7&nbsp;Tishrei, 5782, September 13, 2021,&nbsp;live from his home in Monsey, NY.

The class explores three dimensions of Yom Kippur, mirroring three layers of Judaism: Torah, Teshuvah, and Yechidah. Connecting through Mitzvos; the Intrinsic Connection; and the Oneness which Transcends Connection

Why Did the Rabbi Skip Shul on Yom Kippur?

Chassidus: Likkutei Sichos Yom Kippur #2

Judaism: 3 Layers, 3 Perspectives

Rabbi YY Jacobson&nbsp;on the 10th of Elul, 5782, September 6, 2022, addressing&nbsp;Chabad of Aventura, Florida.

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yaakov frank

hebron massacre

reb tzvi pesach frank

The final month of the Jewish year is dedicated to introspection and repentance. Selichos, special prayers, and supplications are recited.

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Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. It is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, a day of judgment and coronation of G‑d. 

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Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year.  It is a day of fasting and repentance, affording a person the opportunity to cleanse himself of his sins and renew his relationship with our Creator.

When Your Sins Become Holy

Is G-d Present in My Pain and My Mistakes? Reb Tzvi Pesach Frank and the Hebron Massacre

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לקבלת תוכן ועדכונים מאת הרב יוסף יצחק ג'ייקובסון