Yom Kippur - From the desk of Rabbi Telsner

One of the most poignant prayers we say on Yom Kippur is undoubtedly the section in Mussaph called the Avodah – it is a re-enactment of the service of the Cohen Gadol (the high priest) performed on Yom Kippur from the beginning of the day till he left the temple mount to go home.
The text and melody which accompanies this prayer are awe inspiring.
The message, however, is that these prayers encompass different themes.
First, that not only do simple ordinary people who sin need to confess and request forgiveness, but that Cohainim - people who are totally immersed in a world of sanctity - also need to confess and repent. For this we can give two reasons. One - there is no one (as King Solomon the wisest of all men said) who is so righteous that he doesn’t sin. Two, even if we are perfect in our behaviour, vis a vis our responsibility to G-d we still are so distant and therefore need to repent.
An additional theme of the Avodah prayer is that straight from the start the Almighty realises our innate faults and foibles, and thus provided us a day in which we can make amends for our failures.
Most importantly, when we finish the day, having made a sincere effort and subjected ourselves to the strictures of Yom Kippur, we must believe that the Almighty has forgiven us and can then experience and express true simcha in continuing our mission in this world.
Wishing the community an easy fast and a good sweet new year.