Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar Urges Forgiveness and Repentance Ahead of Yom Kippur

Just before the start of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, delivered a special address to the public, emphasizing the importance of repentance, spiritual awakening, and seeking forgiveness.

Rabbi Amar delved into the origins of Yom Kippur, referencing the biblical verse "For on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you from all your sins before the Lord." He recalled the biblical narrative of Moses ascending Mount Sinai after the sin of the Golden Calf and the breaking of the first tablets. Moses' fervent prayers for the people, which lasted forty days, culminated on Yom Kippur, when God responded, "I have forgiven as you requested."

"These days are saturated, every second and every moment, with the secrets, intentions, and pure prayers of Moses our teacher who was in the heavens, he did not eat or drink, he only prayed," Rabbi Amar stated, highlighting the profound spiritual significance of the period. He stressed that the prayers reached an immense and sublime level.

Addressing the remaining time before the fast, Rabbi Amar urged listeners to seize every moment for Torah study and mitzvot (commandments), even if the preceding days of mercy and forgiveness were not fully utilized. He called for introspection, urging individuals to discard bad conduct and embrace goodness. "The climax of the day atones," he declared, emphasizing that "every second of this day atones, and how much we must hold onto this day and not belittle even one moment of it."

Concluding his remarks, Rabbi Amar focused on the crucial aspect of interpersonal relationships, particularly the obligation to forgive others wholeheartedly. "One of the most important things is to forgive everyone who has wronged us," he said. "Whether they took money, insulted us, or shamed us, forgive and pardon with a whole heart and a willing soul. This is the greatest thing we can do." He cited a well-known Talmudic principle: "Whoever overlooks transgressions is forgiven for all his iniquities," explaining that God reciprocates human forgiveness.