Halakhah su Isaia 59:26

And, in truth, not against Him (G–d forbid) is our plaint, but against ourselves; for it [the redemption] is not beyond His powers, viz. (Isaiah 59:1-2): "Behold, the L–rd's hand is not too short to save, and His ear is not too heavy to hear. But your sins have made a separation between you and your G–d, and your transgressions have hid [His] face from you, from hearing." And we find (viz. Sanhedrin 98a) that in the days of R. Yehoshua ben Levi he was told (viz. Tehillim 95:6) that the Messiah would come "today, if you hearkened to His voice" — even though the time of the exile decreed for Israel (one thousand years, corresponding to the one thousand year "day" of the Holy One Blessed be He, had not yet passed [viz. Chida, Petach Eiynayim, Sanhedrin, Ibid.]) In spite of this, the power of repentance would have annulled the decree. How much more so, more than eight hundred years after the end of that [one-thousand-year] "day", [should the Messiah come if we repented]! The fault is ours alone — that with our many sins we do not allow Him to repose His Shechinah in our midst.

(Hay-Nun) ‘Behold man is the one’ in which there is one shrine, as we have elucidated in most of the sections of this introduction of ours. And [it is] as it is [found] in the Zohar, Parashat Korach 94 (3:176a-b), “The One only dwells among the one.” See there. And the unity that [comes] as a result of the commandments permitted the Divine Presence to dwell among Israel through the twenty-two letters of the Torah. As included in it are the six hundred and thirteen commandments – the three hundred sixty-five positive commandments and the two hundred and forty-eight negative commandments – corresponding to the sinews and limbs of a man.⁹⁷Targum Yonatan on Genesis 1:27; Zohar 1:170b. And so was it explained in Paragraph Tzaddi in explanation of the verse (Isaiah 59:2) “But your iniquities have been a barrier between you,” that [the Jews] are united through the commandments and divided one from another through sins.⁹⁸This specific verse is not explained in our text. However the topic is broached in Paragraph Tsadi, and it is possible that this is the reference here, and not Paragraph Bet, as appears in the printed editions. However, it is even more likely that the reference is to Binah Le’Etim (Drash 48) of Rabbi Azariah Figo, as per the correction found in the New York Shivelei David edition, as both the verse and the idea are found there. (Hence the notation Si. Bet, which was understood as a reference to Siman Bet, should have been S. Bet, which could mean Sefer Binah Le’Etim.) And this was the intention of Hillel who said to the convert, “[‘And you shall love your neighbor as yourself’ (Lev. 19:18)] – that is the entire Torah, and the rest is its explanation. Go study.”⁹⁹Shabbat 31a. [Its] explanation is that the other commandments are explanations of the unity through which Israel joins together and becomes one. And this is also elucidated in the midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 13:3) that says, “What does the Holy One, blessed be He care if he slaughters, etc.? Behold, [the commandments] were only given to refine (letsaref, which can also mean, unite) the creatures, as it is stated (Prov. 30:5), ‘the word of God is refined.’” [Its] explanation is that through the commandments, the Children of Israel will be unified. And also there in Midrash Rabbah on Parashat Vayechi,¹⁰⁰The reference seems to be to Bereishit Rabbah 98:3. Differing versions of the midrash are brought in several other places such as Midrash Tanchuma, Vayehi 8:2. “Yaakov said to his sons, ‘Maybe because you come from four mothers, you have a tinge of idolatry?’ They said to him, ‘It is written (Num. 1:20), “according to the house of their fathers” – just like there is only One in your heart.’” And the author of the Yafeh Toar¹⁰¹A commentary on Bereishit Rabbah by Rabbi Shmuel Yafeh Ashkenazi (Turkey, 16th century). did not know its explanation. But it appears to me that [it can be explained] according to what [Maharal] writes in Netsach Yisrael¹⁰²See Netsach Yisrael, Chapter 32 (p. 153 in London edition). – [that the] reason that Rachel gave the signs to Leah¹⁰³In Bava Batra 123a, the rabbis write that Yaakov had given Rachel a type of code (signs) in case an impostor be sent to his tent in her place on their wedding night. When Rachel found out the plot to have Leah be that impostor, she gave Leah the signs to prevent her from being embarrassed. was because she knew that it was not fitting for Yaakov to father all twelve of the tribes from one woman. And had it been so, they would have all been one, whereas that is not fitting for this lowly [world] – as its nature inclines away from the way of oneness. And this causes sin in Israel until the future to come (messianic times) speedily in our days. See there. And this is [the meaning of that which Yaakov said to his sons, “Maybe because you come from four mothers, it is impossible that you will be unified; and sin caused it, as the One can only dwell among one.” But they answered him, “It is written, ‘according to the house of their fathers’ – and there is one Father to all of us and there is One in our hearts. And God, may He be blessed, will be unified through us.” And it is as our teacher Rabbi Yitschak Abarbanel writes in explanation of the verse (Gen. 2:24), “and they shall become one flesh,” like Rashi explained – through the embryo that is created from both of them. And the portion of each one is in the many limbs. Even though the embryo loves itself; yet through this the father and the mother [also] love each other, as a branch produces love in [its] roots. And this is the intention of the statement of [the Sages], may their memory be blessed, “‘And you shall love [the Lord your God], etc.’ (Deut. 6:5) – [that the name of the Heavens be loved through you¹⁰⁴This is the text found in the Talmud, and it is possibly what was written by the author. However, most versions of the Shev Shmat’ta have, “both of them will be beloved through the Torah scholar,” possibly relating to the mother and father.]” (Yoma 86a). And that means that the higher forces become unified, as all of them gave their portion to man and he is a branch from them – and love will sprout from the roots. And hence one should have intention for this unification before every [Torah] study [session] and good deed, as a fulfillment of the commandment of “and you shall love your neighbor, etc.” And [then] all of Israel will be one, and also all of the ones that gave birth to them will love each other and be unified.¹⁰⁵The author returns here to the theme with which he began this essay in the introductory paragraph and Paragraph Gimmel. And with what I have elucidated, their statement at the end of Tractate Eduyot is understood, “[Eliyahu] will not come to make distant or to bring close, but to make peace [among them], as it is stated (Mal. 3:23-24), ‘Behold, I will send, etc. [He shall bring back the hearts of the children to their fathers’” (Mishnah Eduyot 8:7). [This is] meaning that [the children] will be called by the name of their fathers, but there is [only] one Father to us all. And the world will then be fit for it. And then we shall see the joy of Zion and the building of Jerusalem, speedily in our days. Amen, Selah.

“The order of the Afternoon Service¹⁸⁵Minḥah, מנחה, Afternoon Service; see footnote 40. on Yom Kippur” - Containing four paragraphs.
In the Afternoon Service one says “אשרי¹⁸⁶Ashrei, אשרי; see footnote 175.”, and “ובא לציון¹⁸⁷U-Va Le-Ẓiyyon, ובא לציון, is a prayer found near the beginning of the Minḥah Service on Shabbat as well as on festivals. It is of biblical origin coming from Isaiah 59:20-21. It usually follows the Ashrei (see footnote 175). It is also found in additional prayers often recited after the daily Shaḥarit, Morning Service. The prayer speaks of a Redeemer coming to Zion, Jerusalem, and helping Israel who eternally shares in God's covenant.
Hertz, op. cit., p. 571.”, but one does not say “ואני תפלתי¹⁸⁸Ve'ani Tefilati, ואני תפלתי, is a prayer recited on the Sabbath during the Minḥah Service. It closes the prayers immediately preceding the Torah reading done during the Afternoon Sabbath Service. It is only recited on the Sabbath. If a festival occurs on a weekday the prayer is omitted. On Yom Kippur the prayer is omitted even if Yom Kippur falls on the Sabbath because it is not in keeping with the spirit of the Day of Atonement. The prayer is from Psalms 69:14, "And as for me, may my prayer unto Thee, O Lord, be in an acceptable time: O God, in the abundance of Thy lovingkindness, answer me with thy sure salvation."
ibid., p. 572.” even if it (Yom Kippur) falls on the Sabbath.
Hagah : We are not used to saying “אשרי¹⁸⁹Ashrei, אשרי; see footnote 175.” and “ובא לציון¹⁹⁰U-Va Le-Ẓiyyon, ובא לציון; see footnote 187.” before the Afternoon Service, only before the Closing Service, Ne’ilah¹⁹¹Ne'ilah, נעילה, is a worship service which concludes the prayer service recited on Yom Kippur. The name Ne'ilah was derived from a ritual during the time of the Second Temple. Even though the service is now only recited at the conclusion of the Day of Atonement, it was originally recited on all public fast days including Yom Kippur.
The full name of the service is Ne'ilat She'arim which means the "Closing of the Gates". This referred to the daily closing of the Temple gates at night. On Yom Kippur this terminology is symbolically associated with the closing of the heavenly gates which are open until sunset to receive the atonement of a person who truly repents.
According to the Talmud, during Temple times Ne'ilah was recited daily one hour before sunset at which time the Temple Gates were closed as there was no evening sacrifice only an Afternoon Minḥah Sacrifice (see footnote 22). On Yom Kippur Ne'ilah, because of the length of the Temple Service and the special rituals involved, could not begin until close to sunset. After the destruction of the Temple and when Ne'ilah became only associated with Yom Kippur, it became the practice for the service to begin close to sunset, before twilight and to end at nightfall.
In the third century the Ne'ilah Service consisted of an Amidah of seven benedictions which were parallel to the other Amidot of the day (see footnote 43) and a confession of sins, the Al Ḥet (see footnote 45). The confession of sins though was later replaced by two prayers that are unique to the confession made during the Ne'ilah Service: Attah noten yad le-foshe'im, "Thou stretchest forth Thy hand (in forgiveness) to sinners," and Attah hivdalta enosh, "Thou has distinguished man (from the beast)." These prayers remind man that God eagerly forgives one who is genuinely penitent. There is a basic rabbinic idea that divine judgment is inscribed in the "Book of Life" on Rosh HaShanah, but it is not sealed until the end of the Day of Atonement. Therefore at the end of the Amidah in the Ne'ilah Service the root for the word inscribe, ktv, כתב, is replaced by the root for the word seal, ḥtm, חתם, when reference is made to the "Book of Life". To help set off the Ne'ilah Service and its uniqueness on Yom Kippur, the Ashrei (see footnote 175) and the U-Va Le-Ẓiyyon Go-el (see footnote 187) prayer which normally come at the beginning of the Minḥah Service on Sabbaths and festivals, come at this time before the Ne'ilah Service.
Beautiful liturgical poetry has become associated with the Ne'ilah Service especially prayers of forgiveness, seliḥot (see footnote 14). The central theme of the Service is to give one a final chance and effort to seek forgiveness before the heavenly gates symbolically close at sunset. The Service ends with a feeling of confidence.
The Ne'ilah Service contains piyyutim (see footnote 149), an Amidah and a reader's repetition of it, seliḥot, Ashamnu (see footnote 45), Avinu Malkenu (see footnote 15), and the Kaddish (see footnote 177). The entire ritual culminates with a responsive proclamation of the Shema once (see footnote 173, but only the one line "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One") followed by its response three times, Barukh shem kavod malkhuto le'olam va'ed, "Praised be His glorious Kingdom forever and ever", and Adonai Hu ha-Elohim", "The Lord He is God" (I Kings 18:39) seven times. Finally in the Ashkenazi rite a final single shofar blast (see footnote 221) marks the end of the Day of Atonement, the Sabbath of Sabbaths.
Herman Kieval, E. J., v. 12, pp. 943-44., and so wrote a few of our rabbis, (מרדכי והגהות מיימוני סוף ספר אהבה, וסוף הלכות יו״כ, כל בו ומנהגים).¹⁹²Mordekhai and Hagahot Maimuniyyot at the end of the book Ahavah, Love, (which is the name of the second book of Maimonides' Mishneh Torah, see footnote 59) and the end (of the section) of the Laws of Yom Kippur, and Kol Bo and Minhagim, ומנהגים מרדכי והגהות מיימוני סו ״ס״ אהבה וסוף הלכות יו״כ וכל בו.
For Mordekhai, מרדכי; see footnote 24.
For Hagahot Maimuniyyot, הגהות מיימוני; see footnote 27.
For Kol Bo, כל בו; see footnote 34.
For Minhagim, מנהגים; see footnote 13. We do not say “אין כאלהינו¹⁹³En Kh'Elohenu, אין כאלהינו, is one of the most popular chants connected with the Jewish liturgy. The Sephardim sing it everyday while the Ashkenazi rite has usually limited its singing to the end of the Musaf Service (see footnote 166) on Sabbaths and festivals shortly before the Aleinu Prayer (see footnote 182). During the geonic period (see footnote 19) it was also chanted during the Evening Services.
The prayer expresses God four ways: God, Lord, King, and Savior and that there is none like Him, who is like Him?, we will give thanks to Him, we will bless Him, and proclaim that He is God who our fathers worshipped. Each statement expresses the same thoughts repeated four times, once for each name of God. The first three letters of the first three expressions spells, אמן, Amen.
Hertz, op. cit., p. 544.”, (“there is none like our God”) on Yom Kippur, (מנהגים).¹⁹⁴Minhagim, מנהגים; see footnote 13.