Rav Avigdor Miller on Motza’ei Yom Kippur Advice

A:

I recall the day after Yom Kippur in the Slabodka. The Rosh Yeshiva, zichrono livracha, spoke to the bnei yeshiva in the morning after tefillas shacharis. The bnei yeshiva were going to leave to their homes soon – some would remain for Yomtiv but many were going  home to their families. And this is one of the things that he said – what he said applies only to some of you, but I’m telling you this anyhow because today is the day after Yom Kippur.

“You labored very much on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. You put your hearts into your tefillah – you prayed with all your heart in the yeshiva and you were elevated and inspired. And you accomplished a precious achievement because to pray in a good place these three days is equivalent to three months learning. But it is important now to be on guard. The Mesillas Yesharim makes a statement: ליצנות אחת דוחה מאה תוכחות – One thoughtless jest can overthrow the results of one hundred sessions of serious thought. Let’s say you go someplace and you hear one hundred lectures on yiras shamayim, on understanding, on da’as Hashem. And after the lectures you sit in the company of leitzim, jesters, empty people, then you must know that you have lost all that you have accomplished. ליצנות אחת דוחה מאה תוכחות – One foolish remark can overthrow one hundred tochachos.

“Soon will begin the Yomtiv of Succos and all the way through Simchas Torah it’s going to be days of happiness. So it depends how you’ll celebrate. If it will be a thoughtful celebration, lisheim shamayim — of course you’ll dance, of course you’ll sing on Yomtiv; of course you’re happy. קול רינה וישועה באהלי צדיקים. Who should be happy if not those who learn and those who keep the Torah?! They’re the ones in whose houses should always be the sound of song and there they should always be dancing. But if it deteriorates into wildness, into hefkeirus and frivolity then all the achievements of Yom Kippur is lost. So Yom Kippur is a very precious possession and we have to hold on to the effect of the day as long as possible.

TAPE # R-31