A Different World - Light Bulbs - Who We Can Change - Make It Count

You would think that after Yom Kippur the Batei Din would go out of business. All of the couples who filed for divorce would cancel because each spouse appeased the other, tearfully begging forgiveness and taking concrete steps in order to make it work [this, of course, excludes extreme cases where divorce is necessary].

All of the people involved in monetary disputes [especially those ugly family wars] will have come to a compromise where each was concerned only with placating and satisfying the other party etc. etc.

In addition, all of the terrible fights in our yeshivos, shuls, schools etc, will have ended instantaneously. It was Yom Kippur and each side admitted their part of the guilt and promised to try to reach a peaceful solution.

All of the ruptured relationships between parents and children will have ended. Children will tearfully apologize to parents for all of the anguish they caused. Parents will likewise reciprocate and express contrition and remorse for all of the pain they caused the child.

Women will go on Motzei Yom Kippur and buy a new, more modest wardrobe to replace their less modest clothing of the past. [The Rav of Kfar Chabad recently came out with a strong letter to the women spelling out tzniyus requirements, including the need that the skirt cover the knee. Chasidic women have to be told not to wear mini-skirts???!!! שומו שמים. What is the world coming to. I saw a drasha of the Satmar Rebbe from the 1960's where he also decries the immodest clothing Chasidic women are wearing. What is gong ON? The Eden Roc and Inbal styles made inroads in Crown Heights and Williamsburg?].

Shuls will have signs up with new shiurim for all of the people who decided on Yom Kippur that they have to learn more.

ETC. ETC. ETC.

An אנדערע וועלט - A different world.

But alas, none of this happens and עולם כמנהגו נוהג. I have been following people for decades and they are the same. The exact same. A wonder. You would think, after all of those Eluls and Yomim Noraim that something would change...

Bottom line: We may not have the power to change others [how many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb? 1. But the light bulb has to want to change... How many Chabad-niks does it take to change a light bulb? None. The light never went out....] but we DO have the power to change ourselves.

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!

Let us make this Yom Kippur COUNT. Think a lot about your life and what changes you want to make. The vidui [with great English language commentary], gives ample ideas about what must be changed.

With much love and blessings for a גמר חתימה טובה:-),

Me