What to Know About Today – Erev Yom Kippur

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

THE MITZVAH

The Shulchan Aruch (OC 604:1) rules that there is a Torah Mitzvah on Erev Yom Kippur to do the following three things: eat, drink, and have a festive food-filled meal. Women also are obligated in this Mitzvah, although some Achronim (e.g. Rabbi Akiva Eiger, the Rashash) expressed doubt about this point.

Rabbeinu Yonah (Shaarei Teshuvah 4:9) indicates that this meal should be served and eaten exactly as one would eat a Shabbos or Yom Tov meal. Although the Shla writes that Lechem Mishna should be used, the custom is not to require it.

THE REASONS

Rashi (Rosh Hashana 9a) explains that the reason for this Torah Mitzvah is on account of Hashem’s love for us. He commanded this Mitzvah to His children so that we would be able to tolerate the fasting.

Rabbeinu Yonah (Shaarei Teshuvah 4:10) explains that it is so that we can better focus on our prayers and on how we can do Teshuvah.

Indeed, the Gemorah in Brachos (8a) instructs us that we should limit our learning slightly on this day in order to fulfill the Mitzvah of eating.

THE NIGHT BEFORE

Most authorities hold that there is no Mitzvah of eating on the night prior to Yom Kippur. The Shla HaKadosh, however, did write to eat the night before as well.
There is a concept known as zrizim makdimim l’mitzvos that those who are alacritous – rush to do Mitzvos. This is derived in the Gemorah in Psachim (4a) from the fact that Avrohom arose early in the morning to do the Mitzvah of Bris Milah. Rav Shlomo Kluger (Shnos Chaim #64) writes that one should therefore eat the first meal very early.

On the other hand, the Chsam Sofer went to the Mikvah on Erev Yom Kippur prior to the first Seudah. Both the Otzar HaTfilos Siddur and the Yesod v’Shoresh HaAvodah siddur have a ‘l’shaim yichud” to be recited before the seudah. They also write to recite the pasuk of Vayehi Noam.

MUST ONE WASH ON BREAD FOR THE SEUDAH?

There is a debate among the Poskim as to whether there is an obligation to wash on bread for the seudos of the day. The Sdei Chemed (1 Os Hay) writes that one is obligated as does Rav Eliyahu Pinchas HaCohen of Reina (Elef HaMagain 604:42). The Minchas Chinuch (Mitzvah #313) is unsure. Others are lenient.

May we all have a meaningful fast and davening today and on Yom Kippur itself. 

Rav Yitzchok Feigelstock zt”l was the Rosh Yeshiva of the Long Beach Yeshiva and once gabe a list of 7 things regarding Davening during this time:

1. We should be davening for our brethren living in Eretz Yisroel amidst all the dangers of terrorism.
2. We should be davening for our brethren that are estranged from Torah.  Through no fault of their own, they have never tasted the glorious taste of Torah and Mitzvos.
3. We should be davening for all those who are suffering from illness in our times – young and old.
4. We have to daven for the welfare of the yeshivah movement – the Yeshivos and other institutions of Torah. They are the foundation stone for the success of the nation.
5. We should daven for the well-being of the Gedolei Yisroel – that they should continue to have strength to lead.  We should also daven for the creation of future and worthy Gedolei Yisroel.
6. If we have a friend that we know needs something – whether it is of a physical or spiritual nature – we should be davening for that for him.
7. And when we do make these requests – we must do so without demands, with no expectations – like a poor person at a doorstep requesting alms.

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