In the Service of The King

Rebbe Shmelke of Nikolsberg zy”a (d.1778) was a “Rebbe of Rebbes”. As a mentor to Reb Yisrael the Koznitzer Maggid, Reb Yakov Yitzchak the Chozeh of Lublin, Reb Menachem Mendel Riminover and Reb Moshe Leib of Sassov (among others!), his spiritual legacy and teachings have influenced generations. Toward the end of his life, someone respectfully complimented him, remarking that the schar (Divine Reward) awaiting Reb Shmelke in the World to Come will no doubt be incredible...


Rebbe Shmelke was indignant, and replied, “I don’t look forward to Gan Eden; there is no Yom Kippur there-- so what good is Gan Eden if there is no Yom Kippur?!”

One need not be a Tzadik on the level of Rebbe Shmelke to appreciate the great opportunity for Teshuva, tahara and closeness with HaKadosh Baruch Hu inherent in the Avodas Yom HaKippurim. The powerful, spiritual intensity and absolute focus on life’s most important things is a refreshing change from the mundane regiment and materialistic orientation of our everyday lives. Perhaps this is a reason why the Gemara (Taanit 26b) describes Yom Kippur as one of the two greatest days on the Jewish Calendar:
"אמר רבן שמעון בן גמליאל לא היו ימים טובים לישראל כחמשה עשר באב וכיום הכיפורים..."

However, more often than not, it seems that the sweetness of the moving tefillot and the blissful, spiritual joy of the day is often overshadowed by our feelings of remorse, guilt and regret. In the process of doing Teshuva we are compelled to make an honest accounting of our thoughts, deeds, intentions and motivations, and engage in a difficult process that demands difficult self-scrutiny.
Through the detailed litany of “Al Cheit”, and the Viduy, we come face to face with our shortcomings and mistakes, and inevitably feel pained by the realization that we have distanced ourselves from Hashem.

The Holy Ba’al Shem Tov once praised a man who would smile, sing joyously and clap while saying the usually serious Viduy prayer. The local townsfolk were fed up with this man’s bizarre behavior, and asked the Baal Shem Tov to convince him to stop.
When the Tzadik approached the man and inquired as to the reason for his strange custom, the simple Jew explained: “I am a servant of The King, and I have been charged with a tafkid, a job. On Yom Kippur, my orders are to clean the filth from the gutters of the royal palace and scrape away the layers of dirt from the King’s courtyard. While usually this kind of work is unpleasant, working in the Royal Palace is a privilege! I am fortunate to be in the service of The King, and am excited to do His Will…What a blessing it is to serve The King!” After meeting this special Jew, the Baal Shem Tov related that the man’s kavanot (intentions) were indeed lofty and praiseworthy.


“Cleaning our gutters” - getting down to the nitty-gritty and confessing the details of our wrongdoings may at first glance be difficult and seem unpleasant. Perhaps if we remember that we are in the service of The King, and that we have the zechus of working in the Royal Palace, we will be able to better appreciate Yom Kippur as a unique and joyous opportunity to be cleansed and purified by Hashem.


May we be blessed to experience the great cleansing and simcha of complete Teshuva, and merit to fulfill the Will of HaKadosh Baruch Hu with love and joy.
Gmar Chasima Tova.