A Clean Slate for the Soul
I once had occasion to meet with a wealthy American businessman. I happened to glance at his diary. Each day, whether an ordinary weekday, Shabbat, or a holiday, was a business day. He had meetings reserved with world-renowned magnates, kings, princes, and presidents. All of the who’s who in the world of finance found their way into his little book.
I read his entries in the month of Elul, Rosh Hashanah, Aseret Yemei Teshuvah, and… Yom Kippur.
A sigh of relief escaped my lips. At least Yom Kippur remained clear of any monetary matters. I turned to the man and said, “Throughout the year, you worship the dollar. You maintain your status as a prominent mogul. All of your days are filled with business meetings, contract signings, and the like. You spend all your time increasing your bank account. But as a result of this, you have lost your freedom. You have become a slave to your possessions.”
He was silent, so I continued. “I was truly happy to discover one day which is free of money matters – Yom Kippur. On this day, you rule your money. This is the day which is truly yours, for it is devoted to your spiritual needs.
“You must know that on this day, you are able to receive tremendous spiritual benefits, which will bring you merit. They will decide how the rest of your life will look. But this is only if you make sure to maintain the sanctity of this day and observe it properly.”
