A Derash by Rabbi Dr Abrahami, Edgware United Synagogue, England

Parashath Vayikra
3 Nisan 5762, 16 March 2002 

Last Wednesday we had YOM KIPPUR KATAN (literally "minor DAY OF ATONEMENT"), declared by the Rabbis as a day of fast, prayers and supplications for peace in Israel. This is a day before each New MOON, according to a custom originated by the Kabbalist Rabbi Moshe CORDOVERO of Safed. According to the Kabbalists, each New Moon is a time of forgiveness for sins. Therefore, by repenting fully on the day before the New Moon, the new month can be entered free of sin - indicating renewal.

The day itself is marked by fasting (either for part of the day or the entire day), special penitential prayers are recited for the day, including Torah reading, if there are ten adult males fasting for the entire day. The Torah reading is that of fast days, and at the afternoon service, the fast day Haftarah is read.

While popular in Europe in previous centuries, the custom is not widely observed today, with few exceptions. The authoritative code of Jewish law, SHULCHAN ARUKH, makes no mention of the custom. YOM KIPPUR KATAN helps us to exercise our human freedom that is central to atonement - just as man is free to sin, so he is free to atone.

A central theme of YOM KIPPUR KATAN is concerned with correction of our behaviour through honesty, humility and integrity, and the prophet Isaiah tells us that Zion shall be redeemed with justice and righteousness, being a most precious commodity.

In 1985, the Iran-Contra affair produced fireworks, as Congress charged that the USA, via Israel, sold arms to Iran in 1985 and used the profits to support - in violation of USA law - the Contra rebels fighting the Marxist government of Nicaragua.

In November 1986, Oliver North was the central figure in the scandal, and he was fired by President Reagan. Under a grant of immunity he testified before Congress to tell his story, of which Regan denied any knowledge.

Among other things, Afghanistan, and terrorists such as Abu Nidal and Bin Laden featured in Norths testimony, including that his life was under threat, in addition to threats to the security of the USA.

Both, Regan and Clinton, it is alleged, failed to act on these threats to avert subsequent terror attacks, including that of September 11, 2001, just as it is alleged that Roosevelt failed to act on warnings before the attack on Pearl Harbour in 1940.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Flight 93, crashed on farmland in western Pennsylvania, after it is believed to have been headed to Washington, instead. Said North: "My wife's family used to own that farm. She grew up in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. I don't believe in coincidences."

WAKE UP CALL

Humility, integrity and truthfulness, of which G-d asks of us, may be acquired at a very great cost, as the USA has partly learned form September 11. I say partly, because the Americans are still failing to declare war on the lies, oil-supply blackmail, and terror exercised by the Arabs in the Middle East.

The word Vayikra, referring to Hashems call to Moshe to speak to Him at the Mishkan (Tabernacle), ends with a small letter, Aleph. The Rabbis tell us that it refers to Moshes humility, as the word Vayikar, without the Aleph, hints to Hashems call to Moshe by the way. However, there is a more profound meaning. The Rabbis tell us that the beginning of the Hebrew Alphabet, the letter Aleph, refers to Alufo Shel Olam the Commander in Chief of the world, the One who teaches us (from the word LeAlef; to teach) the Almighty Himself. If the Almighty can reduce Himself (in a manner of speaking) to dwell in the earthly Tabernacle that has physical dimensions, how much more so, the greatest nation, and the rest of the world, should humble themselves in front of G-d and admit their mistakes of pressurising Israel to succumb to terrorists. When these nations reduce their criticism of Israel, like the small Aleph, then the remaining part of the word, will read as - Vyikar, which has the meaning (see Megialt Esther) of preciousness. When we all acquire this preciousness in the eyes of Hashem and mankind, through humility and honesty, we will also attain the light and gladness of tranquillity and eternal world peace. And may the redeemer come onto Zion, and let us say Amen. Shabbat Shalom.

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