English translation — תוכן משיחת יום א׳ פ׳ ברבה, צום גדלי׳ ה׳תנש״א

- After the Minchah prayer -

In recent years, it is customary on a fast day,

According to the custom brought in the halachic authorities,

to say "matters of rebuke" on a public fast day?

And behold,

Every fast has a special aspect - related specifically to that fast.

That is,

Although in general,

all fasts are one category,

there are aspects in which they differ from one another,

as explained in the books of the commentators,

that as in every category - several species,

and in every species - several details

(as we find in the multiplicity of topics in the Torah)

.

And likewise regarding the Fast of Gedaliah,

which has a special aspect unique among the other fasts.

As an introduction:

Regarding fasts - two types: a)

A fast from the Torah - Yom Kippur.

Fasts from the Prophets and Rabbinic decree - the other fasts throughout the year⁵.

According to the known principle that all Rabbinic commandments and decrees are derived and drawn from the commandments

(their counterparts)

in the Torah

(Rabbinic enactments are similar to Torah law⁵/ as explained in Igeret HaKodesh, that Rabbinic commandments are not considered independent commandments since it is already stated⁷ 'You shall not add,'

rather they emanate and are drawn from the Torah commandments and are included in the number of 613 - it is understood,

that the same applies in our case,

that the Rabbinic fast commandment is drawn from its counterpart Torah commandment - the fast of Yom Kippur.

[Although Rabbinic fasts differ from the fast of Yom Kippur,

that on Yom Kippur the night is also included,

and it involves five afflictions,

unlike other fasts

(except for Tisha B'Av)

- this is comparable to all Rabbinic commandments

(which are derived and drawn from Torah commandments)

,

which do not contain all the precise details and sub-details of the Torah commandments; and perhaps one can add the reason - because being Rabbinic enactments,

they did not wish in their enactment to impose extra burden and affliction on the Jewish people]

.

Based on this, we can further explain that a fast is "a day of favor before G-d,"

as explained in Igeret HaTeshuvah"

Sefer HaSichos - 5751

This is the general elevation of a fast day: On Yom Kippur - the ultimate closeness and unification of Israel and the Holy One, blessed be He, is achieved,

in the language of the verse, "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine"

(that the will of a Jew becomes one with the will of the Holy One, blessed be He)

.

And it is known that "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - the initials spell Elul,

for this is the special service of the month of Elul.

And since the month of Elul is the preparation for Tishrei - the sum total and perfection of "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" occurs on Yom Kippur.

And the other fasts which are drawn from the fast of Yom Kippur - this aspect continues also in the other fasts,

that they become "a day of favor before G-d."

Accordingly, the special elevation of the fast of Gedaliah is understood - as an introduction: the precise language of our Sages is known

(regarding the Ten Days of Repentance)

"Ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur" - seemingly it should have said briefly: "Ten days at the beginning of the month of Tishrei"

(or "at the beginning of the year")

and the like,

and why the lengthy expression "between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur"?

It can be said that the Ten Days of Repentance are divided into two

(or three)

divisions: a)

One continuum and one entity - that all the Ten Days of Repentance,

including also the days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,

as they are distinguished from the other seven days

(which are weekdays from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur)

.

More specifically, the Ten Days of Repentance are divided into three types by the distinction between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur - for although in general Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are similar,

and Yom Kippur is called

(in Ezekiel?)

"Rosh Hashanah,"

nevertheless,

in detail,

they differ in their commandments and in their service.

And it can be said,

that the general point that unites all Ten Days of Repentance into one entity is the matter of repentance that is in them,

as understood from Maimonides' Laws of Repentance⁷: 'Although repentance and crying out are always good, during the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur it is especially good and is immediately accepted,'

and from what is said that 'Yom Kippur is a time of repentance for all.'

Based on this, we can add regarding the special elevation of the fast of Gedaliah: since the Fast of Gedaliah is one of the 'ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur' - its connection to Yom Kippur is greater and stronger than other fasts.

And since the Rabbinic fasts - including all the elevations in this: a time of favor etc. - are drawn and branched from the fast of Yom Kippur

(as above)

,

it is understood,

that this aspect is especially emphasized in the fast of Gedaliah.

And it can be said,

that this matter

(the special elevation of the Fast of Gedaliah being one of the Ten Days of Repentance)

is also emphasized in the Haftarah of this day

[Although this Haftarah is read in all fasts,

it can be said,

that it is especially fitting