Yom Kippur Realizing the Ultimate Levels of Sanctity

 

As noted in the Dvar Torah for Rosh haShana, Rebbe Natan, the spiritual heir of Rebbe Naḥman of Breslov, presents a detailed exposition of his thesis that the special days of the month of Tishrei: Rosh haShana, the Ten Days of Penitence, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret, are all focused on "revealing the sanctity of Eretz Yisrael, to allow us to merit coming to the Land."

The primary service of Rosh haShana is God's coronation over His nation and over the entire universe, and throughout the Ten Days of Penitence, God's monarchy is developed and solidified, with the essential expression of His monarchy being within His Land, the Land of Israel.

Rebbe Natan perceives a parallel between the Ten Days of Penitence and the ten levels of sanctity within the Land of Israel, as the Mishna [Keilim 1:6-9] teaches:

There are ten sanctities; Israel is holier than all other lands; 1) (within Israel) walled cities are holier than unwalled cities; 2) within the walls of Jerusalem is holier than other walled cities; 3) the Temple Mount is holier than the rest of Jerusalem; 4) the Ḥeil within the Temple Mount is holier; 5) The Courtyard of Women is holier than the Ḥeil;  6) The Courtyard of Israel is holier; 7) The Courtyard of Kohanim is holier;  8) between the ulam and altar is holier; 9) the Heichal is holier; 10) the Holy of Holies is holier.

The pinnacle of sanctity within our world is the Holy of Holies of the Temple, entry to which is permitted only to the High Priest as part of the Yom Kippur service; in parallel, the peak of sanctity of time is Yom Kippur.

            Rebbe Natan writes:

On Rosh haShana we begin building and revealing the sanctity of Eretz Yisrael, and during the Ten Days of Penitence we merit the ten levels of the Land's sanctity, until on the tenth day, Yom Kippur, we merit the epitome of sanctity, which is the aspect of the Holy of Holies. Therefore, it is specifically on this day that the High Priest enters the Holy of Holies, since on this day we achieve this sublime sanctity.

            The Ten Days of Penitence are devoted not only to repentance, but also to completing the coronation of God over His nation and the entire world, a matter which is inextricably connected to revealing the sanctity of the Land of Israel. This process reaches its apex on Yom Kippur, when there is complete congruence between the ten levels of the Land's sanctity and the Ten Days of Penitence. Thus, it is specifically on Yom Kippur that the convergence of sanctity of place and of time facilitates the High Priest's entry into the Holy of Holies; and in realizing the highest levels of sanctity, it conveys an aspect of the completion of God's coronation.