Everyone needs to set personal restrictions with regards to permissible matters
A double guarding, the source for the precautionary measures instituted by the Rabbis (in additional to the Torah); by upholding all their decrees one fulfills the Will of HaShem ושמרתם את משמרתי יח, ל א
Whenever one has a spiritual awakening, one must harness it to the normal, every-day life
Nadav & Avihu erred in that they yearned for G-d so much that their souls shed their bodies; their yearning was not balanced with a commitment to worldly service אחרי מות טז, א ג
Through connections to Moshe one can both desire to be out of this world and still be in this world
Aharon was “love-sick” for G-d and needed a warning not to be tempted; his sons inherited this desire from their father *אחרי מות טז, א זא
Praise of Aharon – wore special clothing for Yom Kippur, not for his own greatness but due to a decree of the King; this action happened on the first Yom Kippur but was only noted by others at the 2nd Yom Kippur *ויעש טז, לד זב
Ultimately, we fulfill the Mitzvos as decrees of G-d even if they seemingly contradict human intellect
Rashi’s two interpretations of the verse: 1. Instruction in itself for decrees above intellect 2. To avert a tragic “disconnection” in Jewish heritage, greater stress needed in the introduction to this section *אני ה"א יח, ב יב
Even if a Jew doesn’t have the time to regret all his aveiros, just the most worrisome, HaShem helps him do Teshuvah on all
The Cohen Gadol is required to be in a state of being married on Yom Kippur; as he sees the purpose of marriage is for the “home” being built, also he needs to see the purpose and the role of all matters, and then, he is able to bring a G-dly blessing for all Jews for the entire year וכיפר בעדו ובעד ביתו טז, ו סיום מס' יומא יזא
Difficulties are really an opportunity for growth
How does teshuvah out of love transform one’s sins into Mitzvos? סיום מס' יומא יזב
In the Mitzvah of Teshuvah kaparah is a goal but not pivotal; the main avodah of the neshama is done with the body; then even the upper neshama is elevated
Three levels of kaparah are a part of Teshuvah (only part of life) that result in a “cleansing” Four levels of kaparah (when viewed on its own) are kaparah of the soul (which includes after death) והתודה טז, כא יזג
To bring another Jew close to HaShem, one must enter inside one’s soul, by removing one’s “golden garments” (not feeling one’s own honor) and dress in plain white linen
Rashi’s views on the Cohen Gadol’s clothes on Yom Kippur: White garments associated with the location of the service – Holy of Holies Gold garments not worn there since has negative connotations *כתונת בד אז, ד כבא
