It was an eventful summer, both in America and abroad. The stock market was crashing, families were struggling financially, and other tragic events were changing our world. Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a, was asked what we frum Jews could do to reverse the situation. How could we attain divine mercy? He responded with a four-word formula: “Ya’asu Yom Kippur Katan.” He suggested that we observe Yom Kippur Katan, a very powerful holiday that precedes every Rosh Chodesh and that could change our fate.
My First Yom Kippur Katan, Bnei Brak Style
One year ago, I was fortunate to be in Bnai Brak right before Rosh Chodesh. My cousin asked me if I would be interested in going to shul for Mincha and Yom Kippur Katan tefilos. Wasn’t this something only men do? Would we be starting a new trend? Not wanting to miss out on a new experience, though, and thinking we would be the only ones in the ezras nashim, I agreed to go. I was wrong. The ladies’ section was so full that I didn’t even get a seat! As the chazan led the tefilos, I started to feel the emotions one usually feels on Yom Kippur, since many of the prayers are identical, and the nigunim are so inspiring. The tefilos are teshuva oriented and spur great emotion.
The origins of Yom Kippur Katan, according to the Encyclopedia Judaica, was with the Kabbalists, who established it as a day of atonement, from the pasuk in the Gemara that states, “…Amar Hakodosh Baruch Hu, heveyu kapara alaiy shemiatiti es hayarei’ach.…” (Meseches Chulin, 60b) Hashem told klal Yisrael to bring atonement to Him since He minimized the size of the moon, a phenomenon that occurs at the beginning of each new month. This day was eventually adopted by others, not just the Kabbalists, as a day of fasting and reciting distinctive prayers. Nowadays, not everyone fasts the day before Rosh Chodesh, but many recite special tefilos. Some of the tefilos include the yud gimmel middos shel rachamim, (Tehilim: chapters 8 and 102), vidui, and other prayers dealing with teshuva. The tefilos are found in the back of some sidurim, and most Judaica stores carry little booklets with just these tefilos.
Why It’s Important
The idea behind Yom Kippur Katan is to do teshuva periodically throughout the year. We are encouraged to constantly do a cheshbon hanefesh, and improve ourselves, one step at a time. There is no better way to start a new month than with a clean slate! Teshuva not only has the power to bring us back to square one, it makes us into better people than we were before we sinned, since we have overcome our original mistake. What areas do we need improvement in? Whether it is mitzvos bain adam lechaveiro – such as doing chesed, treating others well, and not speaking loshon hara – or mitzvos bein adam lamakom – such as improving our concentration in davening, learning more, and honoring Shabbos better – we can all find something to work on. By observing a mini-Yom Kippur once a month, we can manage our goals better and make real improvements in our lives. We can take the promises we made on Yom Kippur and actualize them throughout the year.
Yom Kippur Katan, Anyone?
After reading the ad in this past summer’s Yated Ne’eman that quoted Rabbi Kanievsky’s advice, I was determined to follow the wise suggestion of the gadol hador. The ad was strategically placed in the newspaper just days before erev Rosh Chodesh. I was out of town and was quite surprised to learn that not all shuls recite these tefilos, including the shul I planned to attend.* I assume this is because not everyone has the minhag to recite these tefilos. In addition, some people do not have the time to recite them in their entirety. Imagine trying to explain to your non-religious boss why you disappeared from the office for 30 to 45 minutes. I don’t think explanations such as “mini-day of atonement” would get you out of trouble!
During the summer months, however, when the days are longer, there is ample time after work to recite Kippur Katan tefilos. When erev Rosh Chodesh falls on a Sunday or a legal holiday, it would be easier for more people to participate. For those who don’t have time for the full Yom Kippur Katan tefilos, they can say part of it. It is also permissible to recite Yom Kippur Katan tefilos in the comfort of one’s own home without a minyan, however, the yud gimmel middos should be omitted. Finally, if all else fails, one could at least contemplate the previous month and make a list of what he/she wants to improve on in the upcoming month – a small kabala that will hopefully have a lasting effect.
In the zechus (merit) of setting aside time every month to work on ourselves, we should be zocheh to the coming of Mashiach, bimhara biyomanu. Amen!
* Please note that the Agudah of Park Heights (3rd floor) and Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim (R’ Weiss’ shul) regularly recite Yom Kippur Katan tefilos on erev Rosh Chodesh.
