By Rabbi Dovid Markel
This Motzei Shabbat, Ashkanazik Jewry commence the Slichot that precede Rosh HaShana. With trepidation and emotion they open their mouths in unison declaring “B’motzai menucha kedamnucha techila,” and beseech the Almighty on High to hearken to our supplications.
The Slichot open with the words of Daniel (9:7): “To You, O Lord, is the righteousness, and to us is the shamefacedness.” Indeed, even an individual who was not awakened by the majority of Elul cannot help but have his heart melt when reciting these words. The days of awe are upon us-Rosh Hashana is around the corner.
In Chassidic circles there is a long standing custom to come toSlichot, “vakildikeheit“-which plainly translates as “wobbly.” Literally, this is expressive of the Chassidic custom to attend a farbrengen (Chassidic gathering) in order to be in the proper mindset.
However, it perhaps has a deeper meaning as well. Indeed, as a young student, my Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Akiva Wagner, would always express the following thought before commencing the Slichot prayer.
One of the expressions of imbibing alcohol is the inability for a person to properly balance himself. For the person to stand, he must realize that he cannot do it alone, but he must rely on someone else.
It is this shakiness that a person must have when approaching G-d in the days of awe. He should not have the hubris to suppose that he, on his own, has the fortitude to approach G-d. Nay, it is only due to his humility and the realization that all that he has comes from G-d, that can he begin to serve the Almighty.
It is this initial expression of intense humility that guarantees that G-d opens His hand to accept those that return to Him and approach Him.
This ensures that the individual, together with the entire congregation of Israel, will indeed be blessed with abidance of spiritual and physical good in the coming year-ultimately with the coming of Moshiach!
