Yom Kippur 5781: 'We're Ready When You Are'

 There is a famous story, which probably isn't true, but nevertheless, deserves retelling (taken from www.logosconcarne.com):

"Cecil B. DeMille (known as “C.B.”), the famed producer and director of cinematic biblical epics such as 'Samson and Delilah' and 'The Ten Commandments', was directing a massive battle scene that involved a vast set filled with thousands of extras and animals.  The climactic scene involved a massive dam bursting and flooding a valley, washing away the battle and destroying the very large, very expensive set.  (Don’t worry, the extras and animals were all stunt extras and stunt animals; no harm came to any person or creature.)

Even in the days of Hollywood’s great wealth and indulgence, it would be possible for only one ‘take’.  There was no way to rebuild such a huge set.  (Of course, this was long before the days of CGI, so everything had to be actually built).  So C.B. covered himself by having the final scene filmed by four cameras.  Each camera was in a slightly different location.  Walkie-talkies allowed the director to communicate with each one.

The moment came, and the scene went off without a hitch.  Everything went perfectly!

The dust settled, the water drained away, the extras and animals were all checked to ensure they were okay.  The set, the dam and the valley, were completely destroyed (as expected), and there was no chance the scene could ever be repeated again.  Mr. DeMille picks up the first walkie-talkie and checks with the first cameraman to see if he filmed the scene successfully.

“No, I’m sorry Mr. DeMille, I’m afraid not,” is the reply, “There was a piece of film caught in the gate and it blocked most of the image.  I’m afraid we didn’t get anything you can use.”

That causes C.B. some concern, of course, but he had three other cameras, so he picks up the second walkie-talkie and asks the second cameraman if the scene was filmed successfully.

“Oh, Mr. DeMille,” comes this reply, “I’m so sorry, but it turned out the battery pack was dead, and before we could hook up another, the scene was over!”

Now C.B. is starting to really worry.  Two out of four cameras missed the scene, and he’s down to the last two.  His heart pounding, he picks up the third walkie-talkie and contacts the third cameraman.  The reply caused sweat to break out on his forehead, “Mr. DeMille, I’m very, very sorry, but the film loader put the film in wrong, the film didn’t run, and we got nothing.”

At this point C.B.  is in full panic mode.  Hands shaking so badly he can hardly work the fourth walkie-talkie; he calls the last cameraman.  To give himself a chance to calm down he starts by asking a few questions.

“Have you checked the film gate to make sure it’s clear,” he asks?

“Oh, yes, Mr. DeMille, it was the first thing we did,” comes the reply! This makes C.B. feel there is hope.

“And have you checked the battery pack to make sure it’s charged,” asks DeMille?

The reply was heartening, “My assistant did that while I was checking the gate.  Fully charged!”

Thinking this might work out after all, C.B. asks the final question, “How about the film, was it loaded correctly?”

Comes the immortal reply, “I checked that myself!  We’re ready when you are, Mr. DeMille!”

 DeMille's reaction (if indeed the story might contain a grain of truth) has not been recorded, but it's not hard to imagine.  Adjectives like fury and frustration immediately come to mind and perhaps even utter desperation and helplessness (in the long term).  And finally, possibly, regret.

Regret that he hadn't taken a different course of action, which might have resulted in another outcome or as the old Yiddish adage goes, 'mann tracht un Gott lacht' - 'man plans and Gd laughs' because even the best laid plans....

Yom Kippur is our opportunity to do our planning for the year ahead because Gd is 'all ears', as the saying goes.  He's given us a gift that lasts for twenty-five hours.  Today, we are not human because today - the holiest day in the Jewish year - we are angels.

What do we do on Yom Kippur that emanates the Heavenly Hosts that Gd created?

Firstly, we put aside our physical needs - Angels don't need to eat and drink or be sated by lusting after physical gratification.  They are Gd's messengers and therefore don't adorn themselves with the finest jewellery.  Their forms are not impacted by a lack of bathing or wearing footwear fashioned from the softest leather.  Angels are simply angelic by their very ‘being'.

Devarim Rabbah 2

The Rabbis said: When Moshe went up to the heavens, he heard the ministering angels saying to the Holy Blessed One, "Blessed is the name of the glory of God's sovereignty for all time " and brought it down to Israel...

Moses taught this verse to Israel but since it is spoken by the Angels, we are not allowed to recite it in a loud manner, because we are not angels....except for the one day in the year when we aspire to be thus - on the day when we shed our physical desires, dress in white, the colour of purity, because angels are pure...and even adopt their 'lingo' - the day when we declare Gd to be one, in the Shema - and then emulate the Angels by repeating their chant  of ''Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuto Leolam Va'ed."

If that's not enough, we even recreate the most sacred ceremony, in the most sacred place on earth, on the most sacred day of the year - the Holy Temple Service, the Avodah which lies at the very heart of the Musaph service, where we say this prayer aloud, as we prostrate ourselves a number of times in an act which is only permitted on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Without the Avodah, Yom Kippur is bereft if one of its crowning moments.

We are now angels - if only for this one day – today.

Mann tracht un Gott lacht - but Gd doesn't laugh at Angels as they are his emissaries.  If on Yom Kippur, we have the spiritual toolbox of prayer at our disposal, can we not utilize it to pray at the level of Angels?  When we chant the Al Cheit prayers ('for the sin….’), let us aspire to rid ourselves of the worst traits of humanity - pride, gossip, arrogance - and use the opportunity of the moment to move closer to Gd.

Let us place ourselves into a position where our hopes, our plans and our deepest spiritual desires bring out the very best that we can be - where our eternal souls have that rare opportunity to engage with our bodies.  Let Yom Kippur allow us to appeal to Gd as angels and in this capacity ask Him to forgive us our iniquities and grant us the clemency that we seek.

My understanding of the story I related with regard to Mr DeMille, is that this man did or did not plan a scene which didn't work out the way he'd hoped.  In truth, it doesn't matter if the story is real or not, because its lessons far outweigh its 'authenticity'.  After all, he was directing a spectacle that resulted in a huge amount of devastation and destruction.  On Yom Kippur, we have a choice to plan our future.  The outcome that lies ahead could come about as result of whether we continue to act as angels - or as people whose dreams and aspirations will inevitably be brought down to earth by our very human failings.

Perhaps if we try to be more angelic next year, our world might turn out to be a more heavenly place.  Where angels will not ‘fear to tread’.  The choice is ours.

Chag Sameach and wishing you well over the rest of the Fast.