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Achieving Greatness
Confessions: On My Own

My God, before I was formed I was unworthy, and now that I have been formed, it is as if I had not been formed... (Artscroll Yom Kippur Machzor Ashkenaz, Page 99.)
Achieving Greatness
Confessions: Unlimited Kindness

“For great above the very heavens is Your Kindness... ” (Artscroll Yom Kippur Machzor Ashkenaz, Page 104) There is another verse that says, “Your kindness is great up to the heavens. ”   Why does one verse say above the heavens,
Holy of Holies
Service of the Kohen Gadol: Incense

The most dangerous part of the service of the Cohen Gadol on Yom Kippur was when he entered the Kodesh Kodashim, the Holy of Holies. The most dangerous of all the times he entered was when he went in to offer the incense.
Holy of Holies
Service of the Kohen Gadol: Holy of Holies

The service takes place in the Holy of Holies. The Midrash says that whoever prays in Jerusalem it is as if he prayed in front of the Divine Throne . Jerusalem itself reaches all the way to the Divine Throne .
Holy of Holies
Service of the Kohen Gadol: Beyond Time

There is only one holiday in Parashat Pinchas that is not referred to as a day. Every holiday except Yom Kippur is called “Yom” either by number or by a title. “Yom Hachamishi. Yom Teruah. Yom Habikkurim.”
Holy of Holies
Service of the Kohen Gadol: Off The Cliff

When the agent of the Jews was sent to the mountains to throw the goat of Azazel off the cliff he would stop at a series of booths along the way to prevent him from breaking the laws of Techum Shabbat, the boundaries of the Shabbat.
Achieving Greatness
Confessions: Calling Out

“And Hashem passed before him and Moshe called out”: (Artscroll Yom Kippur Machzor Ashkenaz, Page 110) Imagine that you were walking alone late a night with a wallet filled with money.
Achieving Greatness
Confessions: A Chesed For God

“For with You is forgiveness”:  !  (Artscroll Yom Kippur Machzor Ashkenaz, Page 324)
It is known that all the souls of Israel are a חלק אלק ממעל/a part of the Lord above, and that our job
Holy of Holies
Service of the Kohen Gadol: As A King

In the song that describes the face of the Cohen Gadol when he finishes the service we say that he “Wears the crown of the king.”  He too, on this day, represents the entire nation. It is he who recites the confession
Holy of Holies
Service of the Kohen Gadol: Esau’s Angel

On Yom Kippur God takes the sins of Israel and places them on the angel in charge of Eisav. The angel says to God, “Master of the Universe, what is my strength that you place all these sins on me?” God takes the sins
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Where Are You Going?

I have a student – one among many – who explained, that while a certain life choice looked good in theory, he at least is fortunate that his subconscious continues to reject the choice, even though the choice he’s considering seems admirable to him and...