Special holiday reading for Yom Kippur on 10 Tisrei, 5765 - September 25, 2004 Yom Kippur Shacharit: Holiday Torah reading Leviticus 16:1-34; Maftir: Numbers 29:7-11; Haftarah: Isaiah 57:14 to 58:14; Mei Kituvim: Psalm 22:1-32(31); Brit Chadashah: John 17:1-26; 18:1-14

The Bagel: Afflicted soul. It was required in the Yom Kippur system established by Moses. It appears to be more than just a fast. Fasting is the affliction of the body, which can be the beginning of the affliction of soul, but it is not necessarily the entire thing. Is it possible to be afflicted of soul without fasting? One text is not clear, but it could be by any cause for an affliction of soul for a woman under a vow (see Numbers 30:14). The definitions for the phrase can incorporate the idea of self-castigation.¹ One translation has self-denial for the text of Numbers 30:14 (see Tanakh JPS). The readings explore the use and abuse of this important phrase.

Torah:
Leviticus 16:1-34. In the Shacharit Torah reading, it is spelled out what is required. The requirement for the affliction of soul was to be done by the people on Yom Kippur in conjunction with the national sacrifice by the HaKohen HaGadol (High Priest) and seems to be connected with fasting. This command is repeated in the holiday list of Leviticus 23:17 and in the Maftir reading of Numbers 29:7-11 (v 7).

Fasting deprives the soul of nourishment and as such can be a form of affliction. A one-day fast is not nearly as taxing as a multi-day fast. Around three days a fast can feel like the weakness of a flu virus. Perhaps, the more important facet of fasting is the clarity of mind. The distraction of eating is removed and remaining energy can be diverted to the brain instead of digestion. The focus of the affliction should be on the issue of the atonement made on Yom Kippur. The soul becomes afflicted over the guilt and awareness of sin. When this form of affliction is shared universally in the national-awareness event of Yom Kippur, then the resultant communal awareness of the pain of sin can be dramatic.

Haftarah:
Isaiah 57:14 to 58:14. In the Haftarah reading, a reversal of the proper use of fasting is criticized. Part of that abuse was in using fasting and the affliction of soul for selfish reasons. This brought about the ire of Adonay and the stern rebuke of the prophet: "Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers" (Isaiah 58:3 ESV). It was a pretense in the eyes of G-d and He rejected it. The greatest aspect of that pretense was going through the motions of afflicting the soul without any heart in it. The awareness of sin component was missing and thus injustice resulted.

When people play games with G-d, then they can also play games with other people resulting in tragic hurt. People suffer when sin abounds. But when a proper awareness of sin and atonement is restored then justice rolls. The proper use of the fast and the affliction of soul produces G-d's view of success: "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke (Isaiah 58:6 ESV)? Society is bettered as individual souls are bettered.

Mei Kituvim:
Psalm 22:1-32(31). In the reading of the Kituvim, is a scenario of a soul that was afflicted. David was suffering. He sensed a separation from God, was persecuted by animal-like enemies, and felt abandoned. By the end of the Psalm the tables were turned and he survived. David was vindicated by G-d in the end of the matter: "For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him" (Psalm 22:25(24)). Here was the role-model for the Messiah in king David, whose son will sit forever on his throne. David experienced the separation from G-d that afflicted his soul greatly. Adonay allowed him to suffer by the hand of his enemies. This model forms the experience that David's son, the Messiah, would experience as Meshiach HaEved, the Suffering-Servant Messiah.

Brit Chadashah:
John 17:1-26; 18:1-14. When we get to the Brit Chadashah, we see that experience worked out in the affliction of Yeshua. It was an affliction greater than fasting. He suffered near death in the Garden of Gethsemane experience, when He sweat drops that looked like blood during prayer:

Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. There he told them, "Pray that you will not be overcome by temptation." He walked away, about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine." Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood (Luke 22:39-44 NLT).