Why we eat before Yom Kippur

We spoke some more of Yom Kippur. There is a mitzvah to eat Erev Yom Kippur. Eating Erev Yom Kippur is even considered as having fasted double! What is the reason for this Mitzvah?

One reason is that we should eat so that we should have strength to fast. That is for our own good, why should we be rewarded for it? The Medrash says that it’s like a king who wanted his son to fast. On one hand he wanted the fasting. On the other hand he wanted to protect the health of his prince. So in the king’s viewpoint the prince was actually doing the king a favor when eating eve of the fast!! So is it with us and our Father, Hashem.

Another reason is that really we should have a festive meal on Yom Kippur itself, for it is a Yomtov like any other. Since we are fasting thats not possible. So we feast the day before instead, and this is our “Yomtov meal”.

A third reason that Rabbenu Yonah gives is that for some sins Yom Kippur is necessary for atonement. So here you have a man with such a sin (very many of us!) and he has done what T’shuvah he can. He is simply waiting and longing for the final atonement, waiting to finally be clean of sin and close to Hashem. When Erev Yom Kippur arrives and it’s only one small day left, he is so excited that he makes a big festive meal! He rejoices in the knowledge that his redemption is at hand. That is why we are to eat Erev Yom Kippur (have this in mind!!) and that’s the person whom our sages considered as having fasted double.

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