A Bit of Moses
As Yom Kippur draws to its close, I often feel myself shifting roles—from spiritual leader to coach—guiding the “team” through the final inning, the last round. We’re all tired. Weeks of preparation, two days of Rosh Hashanah, the deep solemnity of Kol Nidrei, and now a full day of fasting have left everyone—myself included—exhausted.
That’s why, as we enter Neilah, the final prayer of the High Holiday season, I change my approach. Instead of sharing deep, elaborate thoughts, I try to speak directly to the core of each person—to help them tap into their essential, unbreakable connection with G-d. This is the moment to dig deep, rise above the fatigue, and push across the spiritual finish line.
Why talk about this now, nearly two months before Neilah?
Because in this week’s Torah portion, Moses tells the Jewish people: “What does G-d ask of you, other than to fear Him?” The Talmud challenges this: Is awe of G-d really such a small thing? Moses seems to say it’s easy! The Talmud answers: Yes—for Moses, it is.
The first Chabad Rebbe, in Tanya, explains that each of us carries a spark of Moses’ soul. That means we each have the inner capacity to develop the deep relationship with G-d that Moses describes. But there’s one condition—we have to want it. Once we truly desire that connection, we find it was inside us all along, waiting to be awakened.
On Yom Kippur, during Neilah, that spark is easier to access—the soul is already open. And as summer fades and the High Holiday season approaches, the atmosphere itself makes it easier to peel back the layers and connect to that inner place.
Learning more Torah, deepening our prayers, and increasing acts of kindness all help uncover that part of the soul. So as we step into the season of renewal, remember: you have a piece of Moses within you. It’s yours to access—and it’s ready now.
Have a great Shabbos!
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