ועניתם את נפשותיכם… (אמור כג:כז)

One Erev Yom Kippur, the holy Rebbe of Ruzhin Ztz”l was conducting the traditional Tisch during the meal before the fast and said as follows:

It says in the Torah ועניתם את נפשותיכם. These words can be explained to reassure the Jewish people with a blessed new year: the word “ועניתם” can be translated as “and you shall answer”; tomorrow, when we stand in front of The Judge, our only way out of being booked for less-than-sterling behavior is to say “את נפשותיכם” the soul.  Our generation lacks the tools to serve Hashem at a level that was the norm for millennia because of the long exile.  The Rebbe continued: our generation is already in the throes of the long-awaited redemption, known as עקבתא דמשיחא (the footsteps of the anointed), when the souls descending to this world are of the lowest possible level.  Such a defense could well be accepted up in the high heavens!   The Rebbe sighed, saying, “What will I have to answer for myself?!  How will I be able to face the heavenly court?  My only way out would be to tell the heavenly court ”ועניתם את נפשותיכם” the holy G-d has placed my soul in such a generation, and I am part of my community.”  This will surely grant everybody a healthy and prosperous new year!