The Shaloh, the great medieval 16th-century sage, writes that “ there is no higher experience for the Jew than to acknowledge the oneness of G-d and his readiness to give his entire life for G-d.”
On Yom Kippur we have the capacity to reach that oneness with G-d.
The soul has five dimensions:Nefesh “Spirit” (the instinctive life), which is in the body. Ruach “Breath” (the emotional life) also it’s in the body. Neshamah “Soul” (intellectual life) which encompasses the body. Chaya “Life” ( transcendental life) which is like an umbilical cord that connects us to heaven. And the Yechidach “Oneness” (Essence) which is a part of us that is untouched, perfect, it has never sinned and is up in heaven.
On Yom Kippur there are five Amidas (Maariv,Shacharit, Musaf, Mincha, and Neilah.
The rest of the year we have either three and four with Musaf on Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and Yom Tov.
Each one of this amidas (prayers) access one dimension of the soul. So on the regular weekdays we have access to our Nefesh,Ruach, and Neshamah. On the days we do the Musaf prayer we access our Chaya, but on Yom Kippur with Neilah we can access our Yechida, our essence, our true self.
This is because during Neilah, before the gates of heaven are locked, everything is open and we are able to reach so high. We reach it at the precise moment at the conclusion of Neilah when we declare “Shema Israel…Hear O Israel, G-d is our Lord, G-d is One.”
Gmar Chatima Tova! May you be inscribed and sealed in the book of life!
Wishing everyone an easy fast.
Some excerpts taken from “60 Days” by Simon Jacobson
www.livealittlehigher.com
