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At the beginning of Yom Kippur, right before Kol Nidrei, two Torah scrolls are taken out and held. The cantor declares, “With the agreement of God and the agreement of the community, in the heavenly council and in the council of earth, we give leave to pray with the transgressors among us.”
This introductory declaration is an appropriate way to start the fast. During Yom Kippur, the holiness of every Jew’s soul is revealed. Therefore, it is a day of amnesty. Even people who act sinfully all year long, with whom we might normally prefer not to pray, are invited to join the congregation.
Our Sages state, “Any fast in which the sinners of Israel do not participate is not a fast” (Keritut 6b). Each and every Jew has a divine spark that is uniquely theirs. Those Jews distant from tradition have particularly valuable sparks that are hard to access. This is why it is difficult for them to observe mitzvot. In the meantime, as long as these people remain distant from holiness, the Jews and the world are lacking the particular contributions they could make. Accordingly, when sinners are inspired to repent and join the communal prayers, God’s name is sanctified. The Jewish people and the world benefit from this unification, and the world draws one step closer to perfection.
