Days of Teshuva

Indeed, we hope that on Yom Kippur we can attain the same level of teshuva as the nation did during the Purim story. That is one reason offered that Yom Kippur is referred to as Yom HaKippurim, the plural construct. The hint is that we hope that our teshuva on Yom Kippur will be as meaningful as it was back then. Then the day will be Yom Ki-Purim, meaning a day like Purim. (It was the Arizal who first suggested that Yom HaKippurim is a reference to Purim.)

However, there are other reasons offered why the plural construct is used for name of Yom Kippur. In Nazir, the Gemara offers various scenarios where the term of a Nazir may be truncated. One common issue discussed numerous times is what to do with the Nazir’s sacrifices that he was supposed to offer. It is relevant when the Nazir set aside specific funds or actual animals in anticipation of the conclusion of his nezirus term. The most serious issue is what to do with the animal or funds set aside for the korban chattas. It may not be offered or exchanged. The Gemara likens it to a person who set aside a korban chattas and then passed away. His korban chattas, which is usually brought for atonement, may not be offered. Stated succinctly, there is no atonement after death.

However, the Rema cautions us to not take this dictum too literally. The dictum is only true in the context of sacrifices. There really can be atonement even after someone has left this world. The Shulchan Aruch writes (OC 621:6) that on Yom HaKippurim, it has become customary to make vows to give charity in memory of the dearly departed. Whereupon the Rema comments: We also recite Yizkor, because even after someone passed away, one can achieve atonement on Yom HaKippurim. The Mishna Berura (18) comments that this is the reason that Yom HaKippurim is referred to using the plural construct. This is to signify the two categories of people who achieve atonement on Yom HaKippurim: those who are living and those who are not.

Since Yizkor and the accompanying tzedaka vow are so important, they may even be recited at home without a minyan. However, Rav Shlomo Zalman, zt”l, cautions that one should not be lenient if one can come to shul for Yizkor. It is already an established custom to recite Yizkor in shul with a minyan.

It must be noted that is very important to make sure one actually fulfills his vow to give charity. If one does not fulfill his vow, then that could be a source of detriment for the neshama. (Kav V’Yashar). The Terumas HaDeshen would not eat anything on the day following Yom Kippur until he fulfilled his charity pledge. The Darchei Chaim V’Shalom (506) writes that one should fulfill his tzedaka pledge immediately on Motzei Shabbos.

While being menachem aveil in Far Rockway, a person present recited, “You don’t have to be Rabbi Paysach Krohn to have amazing stories. My daughter called me recently and asked if I fulfilled my tzedaka pledge. I answered that actually I did not and asked her how she knew. My daughter said that she keeps dreaming about her grandmother who asks her about the fulfillment of tzedakah pledges!”