Repentance and the New Year

In the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, also called the Yamim Hanoraim or the Ten Days of Awe, humankind is meant to disconnect from the routine of daily life and to enter a spiritual air in which thoughts and actions are meant to correspond with the unique days ahead of us, such as atonement, forgiveness and so on. One of the most important gifts given to man since Adam and through the generations is the gift of "repentance", as a force that drives humankind and gives hope for a better future.

Repentance is the power to change. It is the ability to renew our decision-making. Repentance allows man to fulfill what is revealed to him in the Book of Deuteronomy in Parashat Nitzavim (Hebrew for "ones standing") Chapter 30:15-18 "See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil? therefore choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed".

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Ravitz's Quiet Revolution UTJ MK Rabbi Avraham Ravitz offers a glimpse of the arena from his own perspective.

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Velvel silver spring:

Dear Rabbi, I recently read of rumors that you may join Olmert's government due to political concessions he would make regarding organ transplants, as well as a "gift" of additional millions of shekels for your Torah institutions, a gift which really amounts to a bribe, don't you think? I just want you to know, that regardless of what your smiling nodding Chareidi drones accept or don't accept from you, I am a Torah observant Jew and if you do that, you are selling out Israel and selling out Jews all over the world by taking this bribe. Hashem is supposed to provide our sustenance.

Adam:

You better learn to teach other Charedim to stand opposed soon because one day there won't be enough secular and traditional Israelis to aid the religious Zionists in the IDF to protect the lazy free-riding Jews in the Kollels. They may be broke, but at least they have Torah!

So now we have tons of impovrished Jews supported by donations and government money. Money which can go to better places to aid Klal Yisroel like kiruv, medical research and a LIVABLE WAGE for the small percentage of Jews who would be an asset for Yisroel to learn for a living.

Just as society benefits from the best and brightest teaching in universities and sharing their knowledge, Jewish society derives a similar benefit from the best and brightest learning in Yeshivas. Unfortunately, those that are actually that bright make up a tiny proportion of those who learn full time. It is a selfish act if one does not excel in learning Torah yet does so for a living. Those selfish Jews can be of better use to themselves, their families and Klal Yisroel with a job and to learn part time and build more Nahal Charedis.

Ravitz, you should be ashamed of yourself to suggest bringing the bane of Eretz Yisroel's existence even closer. They brought this on themselves and you want to bring them on us. I guess its easy for you to say something so suicidal as the majority of your supporters have no idea what it is like to pick up a gun and protect Jews.

Dan Friedman:

They say war is too important to be left to the generals. How much more so rabbis?