Photographs have long been considered a way to get a glimpse into the personalities of people, especially celebrities and public figures.
Take, for instance picture of Albert Einstein, with his tousled white hair and thoughtful gaze, conveying his creative nature.
In the Jewish world, celebrities. known as “Gedolim” also let photographs of them reveal a distinct quality they possess.
Reb Elchonon Wasserman and Reb Boruch Ber Leibowitz exuded seriousness and intensity in their headshots.
Other Gedolim, like Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel and Rav Noach Weinberg, exude warmth and approachability.
But there was one Gadol who stands out in his approach. In nearly every picture taken of him, he is giving an 100-watt smile directly to the camera.
That person was Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurebach.
Reb Shlomo Zalman’s signature smile was very befitting to him, because he was known for his youthful and ever-happy countenance towards people.
Rav Shlomo Zalman once asked his student, Rav Chaim Kornberg, “What is the happiest moment of the year?” Rav Shlomo Zalman answered his own question, and said that the time he feels the most joyous is when he makes the beracha of “Shehechiyanu” (the seasonal blessing) that ushers in the holiday of…Yom Kippur!
Take, for instance picture of Albert Einstein, with his tousled white hair and thoughtful gaze, conveying his creative nature.
In the Jewish world, celebrities. known as “Gedolim” also let photographs of them reveal a distinct quality they possess.
Reb Elchonon Wasserman and Reb Boruch Ber Leibowitz exuded seriousness and intensity in their headshots.
Other Gedolim, like Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel and Rav Noach Weinberg, exude warmth and approachability.
But there was one Gadol who stands out in his approach. In nearly every picture taken of him, he is giving an 100-watt smile directly to the camera.
That person was Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurebach.
Reb Shlomo Zalman’s signature smile was very befitting to him, because he was known for his youthful and ever-happy countenance towards people.
Rav Shlomo Zalman once asked his student, Rav Chaim Kornberg, “What is the happiest moment of the year?” Rav Shlomo Zalman answered his own question, and said that the time he feels the most joyous is when he makes the beracha of “Shehechiyanu” (the seasonal blessing) that ushers in the holiday of…Yom Kippur!
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָֽנוּ וְקִיְּמָֽנוּ וְהִגִּיעָֽנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה:
Blessed are You, Adonoy, our God, King of the Universe Who has kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this time.
What did Rav Shlomo Zalman understand about the essence of Yom Kippur that caused him to rejoice, especially considering that many people associate this holiday with pain and gloom?
Before we answer this question, let’s rewind to last year's Yom Kippur. Cloaked in pristine white clothing, we beat our chests, and we promised Hashem that this year we would be better Jews.
As we said the “Al Chet” for the sin of speaking Lashon Hara, we showed Hashem a “teaser trailer” of ourselves overhearing a gossip conversation and jumping into action to stop them.
Before we answer this question, let’s rewind to last year's Yom Kippur. Cloaked in pristine white clothing, we beat our chests, and we promised Hashem that this year we would be better Jews.
As we said the “Al Chet” for the sin of speaking Lashon Hara, we showed Hashem a “teaser trailer” of ourselves overhearing a gossip conversation and jumping into action to stop them.
עַל חֵטְא שֶׁחָטָֽאנוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ בְּלָשׁוֹן הָרָע:
For the sin we committed before You by evil talk [slander].79This includes causing a fellow Jew physical, monetary of social harm through passing degrading information about him to another person. It makes no difference whether this is done in his presence or behind his back, or if the information is true or false.—Siddur HaGra
Fast forward to, oh…about a week later, we’re seated at a table where we hear a fellow Jew being bludgeoned by merciless Lashon Hara - yet we stay silent. What happened to our steely resolve from just a few days ago?
This “full circle” scenario you just read is the essence of what Yom Kippur is all about. It’s the feeling of committing to Hashem, really trying, but bailing at crucial moments.
It’s a day where we take a look at these times when we let Hashem, and ourselves down. Hashem believes in our abilities and gives us everything we need to fulfill our missions in this world, yet so many times, we squandered it, or worse yet, we used it to rebel against him.
This feeling of remorse can burn. (Some side effects may also include stinging)
But drawing out these feelings has a purpose; it acts a healing balm to clean our neshamos (souls) from the spiritual grime we allowed to accumulate from our sins. This balm has a name: “Teshuva.” (“Repentance”)
On Yom Kippur, we are given the template with which to do a complete teshuva and have our sins wiped away. We are getting a “new lease on life” on Yom Kippur! When Hashem removes our sins, included in that is all of those spiritual “barriers” that have been holding us back from drawing close to Him unabashedly and unequivocally!
Rav Shlomo Zalman, now I see why you were so happy at the onset of Yom Kippur!
May we all have an introspective and cleansing Yom Kippur (and don’t forget, always smile pretty for pictures!)
This “full circle” scenario you just read is the essence of what Yom Kippur is all about. It’s the feeling of committing to Hashem, really trying, but bailing at crucial moments.
It’s a day where we take a look at these times when we let Hashem, and ourselves down. Hashem believes in our abilities and gives us everything we need to fulfill our missions in this world, yet so many times, we squandered it, or worse yet, we used it to rebel against him.
This feeling of remorse can burn. (Some side effects may also include stinging)
But drawing out these feelings has a purpose; it acts a healing balm to clean our neshamos (souls) from the spiritual grime we allowed to accumulate from our sins. This balm has a name: “Teshuva.” (“Repentance”)
On Yom Kippur, we are given the template with which to do a complete teshuva and have our sins wiped away. We are getting a “new lease on life” on Yom Kippur! When Hashem removes our sins, included in that is all of those spiritual “barriers” that have been holding us back from drawing close to Him unabashedly and unequivocally!
Rav Shlomo Zalman, now I see why you were so happy at the onset of Yom Kippur!
May we all have an introspective and cleansing Yom Kippur (and don’t forget, always smile pretty for pictures!)
From Sefer Chiku Mamtakim:
