A unique aspect of the Minhah of ereb Yom Kippur is the recitation of viduy (confession) at the conclusion of the silent amidah. This is the first of ten confessions that are recited over the course of this holiest day of the year. This halachah is stated in Shulhan Aruch. The Rambam says the reason for reciting viduy even before Yom Kippur begins is for fear that at the last meal before the fast, a person might choke and die. This way, before the meal he has already confessed his sins at least once.
Rav Pam would often repeat an incident about a holy Jew of Yerushayim by the name of Rav Zalman Baharan. As Rav Zalman was eating his last meal before the fast, two community advocates (askanim) came to his house. They asked him to accompany them on the night after Yom Kippur to raise money for a certain needy individual.
R’ Zalman replied that he was ready to go right then and did not want to push off the project until after the fast.
“What’s the rush?” the startled men asked. “Can’t it wait until after Yom Kippur?”
“No!” replied Rav Zalman. “It’s an explicit halachah in Shulhan Aruch that a person would recite viduy at Minhah before the last meal in case, G-d forbid, he might choke and die during the meal without reciting viduy on Yom Kippur itself. If the possibility exists of dying during the meal, how can I push off the misvah of helping the needy person until after Yom Kippur? Who knows if I will be around to do it then?
R’ Zalman quickly concluded his sparse meal and Bircat Hamazon and set out on his rounds to collect money for the needy person. By the time Kal Nidre was recited, he and his fellow workers had raised the amount needed and resolved the matter.
May Hashem grant us all long life with good health, Amen. Rabbi Reuven Semah
Reprinted from the Parshat VaYelech 5781 email of Rabbi David Bibi’s Shabbat Shalom from Cyberspace.
