The verse "Dirshu Hashem behimotze'o kro'uhu behiyoso
korov" (Yeshayohu 55:6) is commonly applied to the
Yemei Rotzon of Chodesh Elul and the Aseres Yemei Teshuvoh
when HaKodosh Boruch Hu is closer to us than the rest
of the year. Indeed according to the Targum on the verse, the
novi is exhorting us to seek Hashem and call out to
Him while we are still alive, for in death one is free of
mitzvas. If so, there should be no difference between this
time of year and the rest of the year in terms of closeness
to Hashem. It is only that during the rest of the year we
drift away from Him. Elul and Aseres Yemei Teshuvoh are an
auspicious time to do teshuvoh by abandoning our evil
ways and returning to a state of closeness to Hashem.
These days also allow us to stop and consider our ways, to
see where we are headed. They are like a traffic sign telling
us to stop and contemplate whether we are going down a dead-
end street or a one-way street leading to ruin. And this is a
special kind of chessed that Hashem Yisborach
did with us by giving us precious days for self-
reflection.
This period is called Yemei Hadin Veharachamim. It would seem
"din" and "rachamim" are mutually exclusive. A
warning sign posted at the beginning of a dead-end street is
of no use to the illiterate; instead a more graphic sign with
a skull and crossbones is needed. Both are to the drivers'
advantage, for both signs prevent him from turning onto this
street. Similarly a person can go through his entire life in
This World living in error if he does not think about what he
is doing.
Borei Olom, please bestow middas harachamim
upon us and let these days be like a traffic sign warning us
along the way. And when we do not understand the sign
correctly a bold warning sign is posted along the way
(sickness, suffering, etc., Rachmono litzlan). Thus we
are better off if we know how to read the written signs in
the Rambam, the Shulchan Oruch and Rabbenu Yonah, than
those more graphic signs in life.
At the height of Yom Kippur, during Ne'iloh we say,
"Nosato lonu yom lema'an nechdal mei'oshek yodeinu."
Does all of Yom Kippur center on stealing? Are we thieves,
chas vesholom? And apparently this is a constant
problem since these words are written in the present
tense.
It could be said that man received a soul from G-d that is
totally pure and in the image of G-d, yet through wayward
deeds we "steal" it away from its true Owner and this is the
meaning of "lema'an nechdal mei'oshek yodeinu." We are
constantly stealing our soul from its Maker.
But it seems more likely that the prayer is referring to
stealing in the simpler sense, for Chazal revealed to us that
the final decree was issued against the Flood Generation not
as a result their gilui arayos but rather due to
gezel. And the Gra was known for saying that one does
not see any blessing in his Torah learning if even a single
nail in his home was not acquired in accordance with Torah
law.
In Bovo Basra (165a) Chazal say that most people
commit acts of gezel. Therefore we would like to note
several acts related to gezel that we may do unawares.
This list was compiled from mussar books, particularly
the booklet by my friend HaRav Moshe Avidan.
* Standing beside the window of the beis knesses and
robbing the mispallelim of the fresh air so needed in
the summer. In the winter, leaving the door to the beis
knesses or mikveh open too long, letting the hot
air out.
* At hospitals, inadequate sensitivity to the other patients
sharing the room—during visiting hours and even more
so, outside of visiting hours.
* Failing to return money to gemachim or to pay
lending fees for medical equipment or items for
simchas or failing to return them on time due to
laziness.
* Using apartments for sales, day-care centers, etc. or
constantly renting them out to new tenants who damage the
stairwell when they move in and out and increase the costs of
maintaining the elevator.
* Posting announcements (even notices on mitzvah matters) on
top of older announcements or walls from which it is hard to
remove them without ruining the paint. Driving through
puddles and splashing people on the sidewalk.
* Not paying building maintenance fees (vaad bayit) on
time.
* Leaving bags of trash alongside or on top of trash bins
when they are not completely full, creating a stench.
* Tossing unwanted pieces of paper on the ground.
* Taking up two parking spaces through sloppy parking.
* Using the phone at the school or cheder without
paying.
* Common areas taken over by certain tenants without the
consent of all of the tenants. Hanging dripping laundry over
the neighbor's laundry. Using bus tickets without the owner's
knowledge.
* Teachers and melamdim who do not work to the best of
their ability, for every wasted minute is multiplied by up to
40 students or more.
* Ordering a taxi and then taking another taxi.
* Staying up late at night and disturbing other people's
sleep. This is gezel that cannot be paid for.
* Not returning books to the proper place in the beis
medrash, thereby wasting other people's time.
* Guaranteeing loans without ever planning to pay.
* Workers or melamdim who do not waste time but are
tired at work due to inadequate sleep (see Yoreh
De'ah, 245, 17).
* Honking for relatives or friends to go to Selichos
and waking up the whole neighborhood in the meantime.
* Copying cassettes the producers spent much time and money
making in order to profit from them.
* Stepping on mail that fell alongside the mailbox rather
than doing hashovas aveidoh.
* Borrowing books or siddurim without permission.
* Coming late to Shemoneh Esrei (especially in
Minchah) and delaying people who are almost finished
by standing behind them. Ruining the tiyomes of a
lulav while checking it. Taking people's place in
line, which robs them of their time.
Come, let us make a small effort to fulfill Hillel's
rejoinder to the convert not to do anything we wouldn't want
others to do to us. Thus we will carry out ve'ohavto
lerei'acho komocho and merit a good, blessed year for us
and all of Am Yisroel, amen.
