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From Judgement
to Mercy
From
Judgement to Mercy; From Din to Rachamim
by: Rabbi Yitzchak Hirshfeld
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The Ramban (Vayikra 23:24) calls Rosh Hashanah "Yom Hadin B'rachamim," the
Day of Judgment with Mercy, and Yom Kippur "Yom Harachamim B'din," the Day
of Mercy with Judgment. The Ten Days of Penitence apparently serve as a
transition period.
What do these phrases mean? Where do they come from? Understanding this
Ramban will illuminate two of the fascinating themes of this Yomim Noraim
("High Holy Day") period. The first is the interplay between the two facets
of G-d's relationship to man: the Attribute of Din (Judgement) and the Attribute
of Rachamim (Mercy). The second is the interplay of the functions of those
two very distinct, yet complementary, days: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
This is puzzling. Adam was victorious?! Adam and Eve were driven out of
the Garden of Eden, the earth was cursed, and their evil inclination became
intimately intertwined within their personalities. Surely if we were to
identify winners and losers, the serpent won and Adam and Eve lost.
The answer may be, that being evicted from Gan Eden was a great act of mercy
on G-d's part. In the perfect world of Eden, man, in order to survive, must
be perfect. In Eden, Din cannot be tempered with Rachamim. In our far from
perfect world, in our exile from Eden, human imperfection may be tolerated.
Perfection may be approached as a goal, but its absence will never surprise
us.
All this happened on that first Rosh Hashanah. G-d's judgment was tempered
with His mercy. Rosh Hashanah is "Yom Hadin B'rachamim."
The first Yom Kippur was a different response to a different sin-the sin
of the Golden Calf. At the Giving of the Torah, Israel had been elevated
to spiritual heights reminiscent of Adam's situation in Gan Eden. And their
fall was even more spectacular than Adam's. There were no extenuating circumstances;
there was no excuse for failure-the degree of Mercy extant since Creation
would not suffice to save them.
It was just then that G-d said (see Rashi to Shemot 33:19), the time has
come for Me to reveal further levels of my Attribute of Mercy-My Mercy has
no end, no limits, to those who call for my mercy, in repentance and subservience.
The prayers of those who recite and implement my Thirteen Attributes of
Mercy will never remain unanswered.
All this happened as the Jewish People were approaching their first Yom
Kippur. To a great extent "Din" was superseded by "Rachamim": Yom Kippur,
the Day of Mercy with Judgment.
This transition from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, from the predominance
of Din to the supremacy of Rachamim is taking place now, during the ten
days of Teshuvah. Teshuvah isn't only about fixing ourselves-it is also
about fixing a relationship.
When we soften our hearts, the whole world becomes a softer place. The harsh
spotlight of Din becomes the soft glow of Hashem's loving presence. We come
home to bask in the security of a relationship of love.
And that's what Sukkot is all about.
G'mar Chatimah Tovah. |
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