One of the powerful symbols of Yom Kippur, clearly pointing to the mission of the people of Israel, is the story of the prophet Jonah. A prophet is a person who has revealed the higher force to such an extent that he can seemingly speak with it.

The Jewish prophet Jonah receives a special task from the Creator: to go to the non-Jewish city of Nineveh, which is immersed in vices and crimes, and bring its inhabitants back to the Creator, that is, to love and unity.

Since the time of Abraham, the Jewish people have been given the mission of being a “light to the nations.” Although this small group left Babylon for the land of Canaan, it was clear that it would eventually have to return to Babylon in order to unite all its inhabitants.

The people of Israel left Babylon only to learn the method of unification. Then this small group was to return to Babylon and work on uniting it. Just as Abraham once worked to unite the Jewish people, the people who received his method were expected to work on uniting all of Babylon, that is, all humanity, and bring it to solidarity and unity. This is what it means to be a light to the nations, to those who remain divided from one another.

Jonah received this task from the Creator, but did not want to fulfill it, and he fled. He boarded a ship that set out to sea. A strong wind, heavy rain, and a storm began, threatening to sink the ship. The sailors (described here as the Creator’s angels) realized that everything was happening because of Jonah. He did not deny it and agreed that they should throw him overboard. He understood that he was responsible for what was happening and had to save at least those who could still be saved.

Jonah finally accepted the Creator’s assignment when he saw that people were suffering because of him and could perish. He decided to save them even at the cost of his own life, hoping that the sea would calm if he were thrown into it. In the sea, a huge fish swallowed him, and he lived inside it for three days, reflecting on his actions and regretting that he had acted against the program of creation and had failed to help humanity reveal a beautiful, eternal world, a life of paradise for everyone.

He deeply regretted fleeing from his mission. After three days, the fish brought Jonah ashore, directly near the city of Nineveh. Jonah entered the city, conveyed the Creator’s warning to its inhabitants, and taught them how to relate to one another. The Creator gave him the power to persuade them. The people of Nineveh united and stopped fighting, killing, and deceiving one another. Nineveh became a beautiful city whose inhabitants attained the Creator, eternity, and perfection.

According to tradition, the story of the prophet Jonah is considered especially important, and many people are willing to pay large sums for the privilege of having it read publicly during the Yom Kippur ceremony. People believe that this brings good fortune.

Indeed, if the people of Israel fulfill their mission toward the nations of the world, and, first and foremost, toward themselves, if they recognize their responsibility and show everyone an example of positive unity, the entire world will also unite and reach a happy life, the promised shore.

Everything depends on the way the people of Israel relate to one another, on establishing peace and love among themselves, which can become an example for the entire world, a light for the other nations. This is what Yom Kippur teaches us.

If the people of Israel fulfill their mission, the whole world will reach a day that will be “like Purim” (Ke Purim): the most joyful holiday, when one may drink “until one no longer distinguishes the difference” between this world and the upper world, and everyone will live an eternal and perfect life.

Everything depends on the people of Israel accepting this mission and learning from the wisdom of Kabbalah how to fulfill it.
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From KabTV’s “New Life 626 – Yom Kippur: Self And Social Realization” 10/8/16

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