Rav Miller zt”l – The Best Day of The Year .....Yom Kippur

 

LIVING RAV AVIGDOR The Best Day of the Year RAV AVIGDOR MILLER · LECTURE 933 From Chapter One of Yom Kippur Lessons

Lecture 933 in 42 quotes — the Rav’s exact words, in the order he said them, taken from different points in the lecture. Each one stands on its own, so there is no need to read them all at once. Take them slowly — he is building one argument across the ninety minutes, and by the last of them it is made:

Yom Kippur was one of the two most joyous days in the year. It was a happy day, a day when the mind was at its best. And when the mind is at its best, that’s the happiest day. Hakadosh Baruch Hu made this world in such a manner that people should not see Him. And He put up barriers, walls, between us and Him in this world. And our purpose in our lives is to break through these barriers, one after the other. That’s our purpose in life, to break through all the barriers. During the year, one of the ways of breaking through the barrier is keep your mouth closed. Working for a living helps you smash the mechitzos. Whenever you have any difficulty in life, you should know that Hakadosh Baruch Hu is helping you out. It breaks down the mechitzos because when everything is going smoothly, you forget about Hashem. Of course, if somebody prefers a more comfortable way of coming close to Hashem, we say, כָּל הָעוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה, יִסּוּרִין בְּדֵילִין הֵימֶנּוּ — “If you engage in Torah,” which causes your mind to be united to Hashem, and you’re thinking of Hashem in Torah, then “yissurim, suffering, goes away from you” (Berachos 5a). You don’t need suffering. That’s an easier way. So you have your choice. Eating in luxury, unless you’re capable of appreciating it, constitutes a barrier between you and Hashem. We approach the subject of Yom Kippur. In the Torah it states, קְדֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ — “You should be holy” (Vayikra 19:2). קְדֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ is a commandment in itself. How do you do it? So our chachamim tell us, פְּרוּשִׁים תִּהְיוּ — you have to be abstainers (Sifri, Kedoshim, parashah 1). You have to abstain. You want to become a kadosh? You have to learn how to say no to yourself. He writes (Iggeres HaGra) that the best prishus is when you don’t talk. מָה אֻמָּנוּתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה — “What’s a man’s profession in this world?” His profession is, יָשִׂים עַצְמוֹ כְּאִלֵּם — “He should make himself as a mute” (Chullin 89a) He has to make himself as though he cannot talk. To keep quiet. Among the studies of [different forms of] prishus, we have to know that one of the most important is to keep away from goyim. Yom Kippur is a wonderful opportunity, when we sit all day only among Jews. What a berachah that is. The mechitzos are down today. You feel a closeness to klal Yisrael. And Yom Kippur becomes for you the day of the greatest success. We’re coming to the theme of today, to understand that this day is the happiest day of the year. Of course, for some people, it isn’t. You want to get home, you’re looking at the clock, counting how many hours until Ne’ilah, and thinking what will be for supper tonight — it’s human nature; but you have to start training yourself now so that when you get a little older you might even start to enjoy Yom Kippur. Start now, start persuading yourself that Yom Kippur is a happy day. The Mesilas Yesharim tells us there are three causes why men forget their purpose in life. And one is haschok v’halatzon, all the joking around, making fun, amusement, all kinds of things, entertainment. The second is chevra raah, wrong company, which most people are. Most people are wrong company. And the third reason he said is the most prevalent one, hatipul v’hatirda, being too busy. On Yom Tov, on Sukkos, you can cook, but not on Yom Kippur, because Yom Kippur is the day of prishus, it’s a day of abstinence, not to have any business with anything. Your mind should be available for the greatest purpose in life, and that is to think about Hakadosh Baruch Hu. The commandment of קְדֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ is completely fulfilled by us on this one day in the year. Our forefathers practiced it, and therefore, it was one of the two most joyous days in the year. Another very great achievement on Yom Kippur is the subject of bitachon, trust in Hashem. On Yom Kippur, what are you doing? You’re declaring all day long who is going to be the author of your happiness, only Hashem. The purpose is that you should hear what you’re saying; that everything comes only from Hashem. When Yom Kippur is over, you’re not the same man. You have changed fundamentally. You have learned the very great lesson of bitachon. There are smaller benefits. You ever think what a benefit it is to talk lashon hakodesh all day long? Every letter of the alef-beis is made for the purpose of changing our souls, the neshamos of those who talk that language. Saying the words alone, even if you’re an am ha’aretz and don’t know the meaning of the words, just saying them — the words transforms your neshamah. We come to one of the most obvious achievements of Yom Kippur: כִּי בַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם — “On this day Hashem will atone for you” (Vayikra 16:30). When people hear that, they feel it means Hashem will forgive us for the wrong things we did and give us a good year. That’s not the purpose of lichaper. Lichaper means Hashem wipes you clean. We come to the most fundamental of all the things that happen on Yom Kippur. Who are you? You are the neshamah. That’s all you are, and that’s forever and ever and ever, until techiyas hameisim when you will be clothed again. Sin is a stain on the neshamah. The purpose of Gehinnom is to remove the stains. Yom Kippur is an opportunity to get rid of your stains in this life. Hashem says, “Offer your face to Me. Do teshuvah a little bit and cooperate. Don’t miss this opportunity. It’s a glorious day, Yom Kippur. And that’s why it’s a day of happiness.

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Jerusalem. A walk from the Yemin Moshe neighborhood to Hansen House and the Jerusalem Theatre

 

לומדי התורה הם עמודי ומקיימי העולם: ממנהיג הדור הרב לנדו במשא רוממות הכנה ליום כפור בממלכת התורה מיר

 [do not like voiceovers; read text below]

מנהיג הדור מרן ראש הישיבה הגאון רבי דב לנדו נשא ביום רביעי השבוע את המשא השנתי בהיכל ישיבת מיר בירושלים, בהשתתפות ראשי ורבני הישיבה ואלפי תלמידים ובוגרים. בדבריו עמד על חובתם של בני התורה לנצל את זמנם ללימוד בשקיעות וברציפות, ובפרט במהלך עשרת ימי תשובה. המונים צבאו על בית המדרש המרכזי של הישיבה הגדולה בישראל וגדשו את מבואות הבניין והרחובות הסמוכים. לאחר שמסר את שיעורו בהיכל הישיבה, פתח רבינו את דבריו ואמר: "ברשות ראש הישיבה והרבנים הגאונים, נדבר כמה מילים, דברים ברורים וידועים, בעניינא דיומא ובעניינא דכולא שתא". רבינו עמד על מקומם וחשיבותם של לומדי התורה בקיום העולם: "לומדי התורה הם עמודי ומקיימי העולם, והם אלו שזוכים לחיות מתוך קרבת אלוקים. ולכן חיוב גדול מאוד מוטל על לומדי התורה, בני הישיבות ואברכי הכוללים, לנצל את זמניהם לעסק התורה בשקיעות וברציפות, כיוון שכל רגע של לימוד תורה מקיים את כל הבריאה". בהתייחס לעבודת הימים הנוראים אמר כי הנושא המרכזי שבו נדרשים בני התורה לפשפש במעשיהם הוא מידת שקיעותם בלימוד: "כל אחד צריך לבחון מול עצמו אם הוא מגיע למדרגות בלימוד התורה כפי כוחותיו, או שחלילה הוא מסתפק במועט". רבינו הביא את דברי הירושלמי, "כי הוא חייכם – אימתי הוא חייכם, בזמן שאתם יגעים בו", והסביר כי משמעותם הפשוטה היא היגיעה והעמל בתורה. מרן הוסיף כי אפשר לפרש "אימתי התורה היא חייכם, כאשר הלימוד הוא מתוך קשיים ומתוך דוחק, אז הוא חייכם, הוא תמצית חייכם". "רבים רבים מאברכי הכוללים נמצאים בקשיים גדולים, מכל מיני בחינות, ובמיוחד בדוחק הפרנסה", אמר. "ועם כל זאת, שקועים בעמל לימודם בכל מורשי ליבם – הוא הוא חייכם ואורך ימיכם". בהמשך קרא מנהיג הדור לקבוע לימוד בהלכות ממון הנוגעות לחיי היום-יום, בשל ריבוי הפרטים והמכשולות בתחומים אלה. בין היתר הזכיר את דיני ריבית, שואל שלא מדעת ואיסור עושק שכר שכיר. "אולי מן הראוי לקבל לקבוע לימוד בהלכות ממון המצויות כיום, שחלילה לא ייכשלו בהם", אמר, "ישנם בהלכות ממון פרטי דינים רבים ודברים שמשתנים מעת לעת". רבינו בירך כי בזכות ההקפדה בעניינים אלה יזכו האברכים לזון ולכלכל את בני ביתם ברווח ובנקל. את משאו חתם רבינו בברכה לראש הישיבה הגאון רבי אליעזר יהודה פינקל, לראשי הישיבה ולרבניה, שיזכו להרחיב את גבולות התורה ולהעמיד תלמידים הגונים: "יהי רצון שנזכה כולנו ללמוד תורה בשלום ובשלווה, בעיון ובעמל, ונלמד תורת השם באהבה ובדבקות בו יתברך, וניחתם לחיים טובים ולכל מילי דמיטב, לאורך ימים טובים". לאחר המשא השתתף רבינו בריקוד של שמחה יחד עם ראשי ורבני ישיבת מיר.

Axial Seamount Underwater Volcano off Coast of Oregon to blow .....2026!

An underwater volcano off the coast of Oregon could now blow its top by mid-to late-2026, scientists say.

In December last year, scientists said the Axial Seamount was nearing the threshold seen before an eruption a decade earlier and could erupt within a year. Now, they predict the eruption will likely come later than previously expected, by mid-to-late 2026.

Axial Seamount is located on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, a divergent plate boundary off the U.S. Pacific Northwest coast. It is the most active submarine volcano in the Northeast Pacific Ocean, with known eruptions in 1998, 2011 and An underwater volcano off the coast of Oregon could now blow its top by mid-to late-2026, scientists say.

In December last year, scientists said the Axial Seamount was nearing the threshold seen before an eruption a decade earlier and could erupt within a year. Now, they predict the eruption will likely come later than previously expected, by mid-to-late 2026.
Axial Seamount is located on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, a divergent plate boundary off the U.S. Pacific Northwest coast. It is the most active submarine volcano in the Northeast Pacific Ocean, with known eruptions in 1998, 2011 and 2015..

More here https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/volcanos/underwater-volcano-off-oregon-coast-likely-wont-erupt-before-mid-to-late-2026

Something Off the California Coast is Threatening.......

 [sorry for the scary stuff, but if it does it would be very disastrous to west coast US]

THIS IS BEING HEAVILY MONITORED!

A HUGE UNDERWATER VOLCANO 

giving signs of activity

COULD CREATE A MASSIVE TSUNAMI 

toward California and more

Many Special Military Planes Monitoring:

could this be what Reb Neuberger alluded to [after hearing Rav Sternbuch's warning]??

Just extrapolating!

VIDEO:  https://www.youtube.com/live/1-KgoiHi1h4?si=WkL0MKxsOmMIPBFI

comments:

On Sept 11, 2026, I observed some very odd activity on the flight radar off the coast of Oregon (about a hundred miles off Tillamook Bay) . There was a Hercules aircraft flying in an oval pattern that was being tracked by a Lear jet and a Jet Stream that would fly within 100 feet from each other. 

Then their altitude would start changing so dramatically I was afraid they were crashing, but they would pull up just before they hit the water. Then a new unregistered plane showed up that came from the middle of the ocean, I presume from a boat to the north. I disappeared off radar as suddenly as it appeared. After freaking out a while I went and looked up the specific 1954 C-140 Hercules and discovered it is owned by a movie production company, they rent it out for aerial photography. Maybe I was watching an action movie being filmed with airplane stunts? It would kinda explain everything… I did take some screen shots of the flight patterns and aircraft specifics.

CNN had a banner at the bottom of their news cast that said that there’s a volcano potentially getting ready to blow its cap under the West Coast Ocean any day now, but they didn’t talk about it. It was just in scrolling writing at the bottom of the segment

(at the end of the video is a collection of MUTANT VEGGIES - for what its worth)

Tefillah: Journey of a Lifetime - Birchos Krias Shema & Shema {B'yomeinu}

 

Be Careful Not To Learn With Your Phone On You - The Advice of the Chofetz Chaim

 

Boruch Hashem....We had the EARLY RAIN here in Yerushalayim

B"H Chasdei Hashem, "Ki tov ki le'olam chasdo" ..... כִּי טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ

right on time 

9/17/2026 -- MAJOR EARTHQUAKE WARNINGS issued for areas of Mediterranean, Middle East, W. Pacific

 

אין לנו ילדים כי לא היה מים": תיעוד מטלטל של מרן המשגיח הגאון הצדיק רבי דן סגל במהלכו פורץ בבכי נסער

 

“Israela” – Group Aliyah

 Rabbi Ari Posner:

Natalie interviews Rabbi Ari Posner, head of the N. American section of “Israela” an organization that has been around for 30 years facilitating “group aliyah.” -This is when several people make aliyah together, from the same country, with the same language, to the same place in Israel. There are many Jews who want to make aliyah, but don’t feel comfortable making the move alone. Group aliyah provides community support when making this life change. Israela has successfully brought thousands of olim to Israel, mostly from France. They have expanded their work to North America in the past two years. If you are considering aliyah, but don’t want to do it alone, reach out to Israela at Israela.org or write “Israela Group Aliyah” in your google search. 'Returning Home' podcast on INTR - Israel News Talk Radio

Remote detonation - R' Saadya Grama

 

What These Women Could Accomplish IF HOME IN ERETZ YISRAEL…..

Thousands upon thousands of women gathered in Lakewood for tonight’s annual N’shei Adirei HaTorah event. A bird’s-eye view shows the massive crowd filling the venue...

....and their Torah Learning husbands and many children 

present and future?

WARNING: NO ONE Is Prepared for 5787...

The FOUR species we wave, the Four are also Four aspects of the Name of Hashem yud keh vav keh.

5787 has begun, and Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff explains why he believes this could be one of the most transformative years we have seen. What is the deeper meaning of the number 87? Why do the prophecies of Gog uMagog appear specifically on Sukkot? And are the events unfolding in Israel, Iran and the world connected to the final redemption? In this conversation, Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff explores the prophetic significance of 5787, Gog uMagog, Sukkot, the Third Temple, and the extraordinary changes taking place in Israel and around the world. We discuss: • Why Rabbi Hajioff describes 5787 as a potentially “cataclysmic” and transformative year • The meaning of 87, “Paz” — pure gold — and its connection to the Temple and Jerusalem • Why 87 is also the numerical value of “Ani Hashem” • Psalm 87 and its connection to Zion, Jerusalem and redemption • Why the prophecies of Gog uMagog are read specifically on Sukkot • Ezekiel 38 and 39 and the final battle surrounding the Land of Israel • The Malbim’s teaching connecting these prophecies to three world wars • Why Rabbi Hajioff believes the final stage of Gog uMagog may already be underway • Persia, modern Iran, Russia and the nations described in the prophecy • Why the surviving nations ultimately come to Jerusalem on Sukkot • Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch’s remarkable explanation of Gog as “Gag” — a roof — and the battle between human power and the faith of the Sukkah • Why the Sukkah represents emunah, exile and the journey back to the Land of Israel • The four species, Jewish unity and the spiritual awakening taking place around the world • Why the Third Temple and the Temple Mount may play a major role in the year ahead • The dramatic changes already taking place on Har HaBayit and what they may mean for the redemption Rabbi Hajioff explains that Gog uMagog is not simply a war between nations. It represents a much deeper struggle between a world that places its trust in human power and a world that recognizes the sovereignty of God. Sukkot becomes the symbol of that choice: the seemingly fragile Sukkah against the man-made “roof” of Gog. And despite the wars, upheaval and enormous changes he believes may come, Rabbi Hajioff’s message is ultimately one of redemption, spiritual awakening and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. May 5787 be a year of blessing, protection, Jewish unity, redemption and the rebuilding of the Third Temple. Subscribe to @RabbiAronSokol for more Torah, Jewish prophecy, Gog uMagog, Moshiach, the Third Temple, Israel and the unfolding redemption. ‪@RabbiHajioff‬

"Never Forget You Are Bnos Beit Yaakov!" | Maran Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch to Seminary Girls ⚡

 

An historic and deeply inspiring address in Modi'in Illit: The leader of the generation, Maran HaGaon Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit"a, delivered an unprecedented address to thousands of seminary students mobilizing for 'Keren Olam HaTorah'. In his speech ahead of Yom Kippur, the Rosh Yeshiva explained the immense spiritual merit of women in Torah study, while setting a vital standard: "Never forget that you are daughters of Beit Yaakov — even when asking for donations, do so with modesty, humility, and without audacity!". Maran Rav Hirsch also shared a powerful lesson from the Rambam on character refinement (Middot) for Yom Kippur, concluding with an emotional blessing for all students for righteous Shidduchim and sweet lives. --- 📢 Join our mission to spread the light of the Gedolei HaDor worldwide! 🌍 Subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications: 🔔 https://www.youtube.com/@GedoleiHaDor...

Rabbi Elimelech Biderman

הרב אלימלך בידרמן בדברים קצרים לעשרת ימי תשובה - אידיש  

 הרב אלימלך בידרמן בדברים קצרים לעשרת ימי תשובה - לשון הקודש

Rabbi Winston: Parashas HaAzinu - Shuvah

I WISH I had your confidence.” 

“Sorry?”

“I said I wish I had your confidence,” I repeated.

He didn’t know me, nor I him, and his face said it all: “What are you talking about?”

“The way you davened Shemonah Esrei so quickly on Rosh Hashanah. You obviously are not concerned about anything bad happening to you this year.”

He just shrugged his shoulders.

“I guess after years of doing the same thing and coming out just fine, it is easy to think that our tefillah doesn’t really impact our judgment, if judgment even really takes place, right?”

“What do you mean? It’s Rosh Hashanah…Yom HaDin. Of course judgment happens,” he answered.

“Then why aren’t you concerned?” 

I think I was starting to annoy him. “I don’t know. I said everything. I knew what I was saying. I did enough.”

“How do you know?” I asked him. “Personally, I’m never quite sure. I mean, I try hard, but I wonder if I can try harder…and that if I don’t, will that be what Hashem judges me on.”

“Well, you’re still here, aren’t you?” a slight smile on his face as if to minimize my concern.

“That’s the problem…” I said, obviously surprising him. 

“Why is that the problem? You’d rather die?”

“Nope. But I’d also rather keep my merits for the World to Come in the World to Come.”

He had to process that. It didn’t seem to him to follow from our discussion, so he was trying to figure out what to respond. I didn’t wait.

“Yeah, people have the wrong idea.”

“What wrong idea?” a little concern in his voice for the first time. 

“Well,” I said, “they think that because they have survived another year despite underachieving spiritually that they pulled the wool over the Heavenly Bais Din and got past them despite being somewhat unworthy.”

Unconsciously, he made one of those faces that said, “Does that apply to me?”

“What they don’t realize is that Heaven doesn’t always exact judgment on the spot despite a person’s guilt. There are other factors to be considered when deciding how to deal with a person in need of Divine retribution, like the lives of other people they interact with, and how their punishment will affect history. Sometimes people survive their judgment in the merit of others, which leaves the person in debt to Heaven. If Heaven doesn’t want to collect in this world, it takes it from a person’s merit in the World to Come…something they won’t even find out about until they get there and see how much lower their account ended up being because of all the times they drew from it in this world.”

His contorted face revealed that all of this was new to him, and that it concerned him. It hadn’t occurred to him that by ordering “free” room service, he was actually racking up a bill to be paid at “checkout.”

There was a deliberate pause to let my words sink in. Then I said for good measure, “Like I said, I wish I had your confidence.”

He just smirked and walked away, but I must have hit my mark because I noticed how next time he put more into his Shemonah Esrai. 

How do I know? Because that person was me. I could have had the same dialogue with several others in my minyan, or in shuls around the world, but I wouldn’t have the nerve. I couldn’t turn my back on myself or say, “What business is it of yours how I daven?” And, after having that inner discussion many years back, it has spurred me on to take my opportunity to stand before God in judgment seriously.

In this week’s parsha Moshe says:

You weakened the Rock Who bore you; you forgot the God Who delivered you. (Devarim 32:18)

We do this by not being real with Divine judgment, no matter how unreal it may seem. God wants to give us good, lots of it. But we can’t receive it while unworthy, which “weakens” His ability to give to us. 

So, just because we have walked away from countless Rosh Hashanahs and Yom Kippurs “unworthy,” don’t think we get away with it. Just because so many people do even worse and yet prosper even more in the upcoming year doesn’t mean they’re getting away with anything. They just haven’t received the bill yet.

If you’re not real with the judgment you can see, work on being real with the one you can’t. Because, by the time you find out what the “cheshbon” has actually become, you’ll have no other way to pay it down. Teshuvah is that miraculously amazing opportunity we have now. Use it well.

Gmar Tov,

Pinchas Winston