This time period is often called the Days of Awe. There is a focus on the serious and somber side of things. Awe may be associated with Judgement Day. It may be associated with a feeling of smallness before Hashem’s Majesty. Certainly awe implies standing at a distance from the object of one’s awe.
As we were going through the Annulment of Vows ceremony on the morning before Rosh Hashanah, 16 people stated their request for annulment and each was granted such by the panel of judges (the rest of the minyan), who concluded with a quote from the Torah, Deut., 23:6, “for the L-rd your G-d loves you.” Reciting this passage 16 times caused me to consider that there seems to be another side to this whole Days of Awe thing.
To take this a step further. Did you ever wonder why so many Jews are drawn to a Synagogue over the High Holidays while many are simultaneously expressing uncertainty whether they actually believe in G-d?
This conundrum can be answered with the following concept introduced by the Chassidic masters. It is called “kiruv ha’maor el hanitzutz” – closeness of the source to the spark. In simple terms this means that during the days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Hashem – “the Source” draws near to us – “the spark.” The natural reaction to that phenomenon is that the spark is pulled toward the source that is drawing near to it. So without realizing why, Jews are seeking a closeness with Hashem in reaction to the expression of love that is Hashem’s closeness to us. They do this by coming to Shul or finding some other way to express the Jewishness during this time.
So while these maybe Days of Awe, with all of the pomp and formality that awe implies, they are some pretty awesome (colloquial) Days of Love as well. We can actually enjoy both experiences and the full complement of a charged emotional relationship with Hashem. All we need to do is tap into it! For, at the end of the day, “the L-rd your G-d loves you!”
Wishing you a meaningful Yom Kippur and a Gmar Chatima Tova!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin