We learn in the Gemara that the red string was hidden away from view on Yom Kippur because it would discourage the people if it didn't turn white.
To me it seems, that by not turning white, it would inform Klall Yisroel that they had not yet done teshuva properly and urge them to do so before the day is over. So why not make use of this accurate indicator?
Am I out to lunch thinking this way? (on Yom Kippur nochdertzu!)
Thank you for considering my question.
alex lebovits, toronto, canada
(a) What you suggested was exactly the source of the problem.
Originally, people were inspired by the miracle (or lack of it) to repent with a full heart. The change was instituted when people began to take the red string so seriously that Teshuvah was relegated to a secondary status. When the string remained red, they simply gave up and became depressed.
In fact, the Me'iri writes that the change was not instituted simply because people became depressed when the string remained red. It was also instituted because the people became happy when it turned white! (See also Yom Teru'ah; the Aruch la'Ner finds support for this understanding in the wording of the Gemara.) Instead of concentrating on Teshuvah, the people began looking for "Segulos," such as whether or not the string turned white. Chazal wanted to teach the people that the key to Yom Kipur is inside of them , not in any red or white strings. If they stopped working on Teshuvah upon witnessing the miracle of the string, they missed the point entirely!
(b) You may wonder why Hash-m performed the miracle of the string in the first place if it had such ill effects on the nation. The answer is that, as with any other thing that Hash-m does for us in this world, even a miracle can be misused, and we were misusing the miracle of the string.
The miracle was originally intended to communicate to the people whether Hash-m's goodwill - a.k.a. the Shechinah - was among them. (See Tosfos Sotah 38a DH Harei.) No matter whether it turned white (bearing the good tidings) or whether it remained red (prompting them to repent more fervently), their Teshuvah should have become more intense with every passing moment. When they abused this "Siman," they were no longer worthy of having it.
Best wishes,
Mordecai Kornfeld
Kollel Iyun Hadaf
Dear Rabbi Kornfeld.
My friend Dr. Aberbak asked this question to Rabbi Pam in Toronto.
He answered that 'Eyno Domeh Shmiyah L'Yirah' and that although Kllal Yisroel were prevented from seeing the string because of the ill effects it had on them (whether for joy or for sorrow) they were told about the color change and acted accordingly and appropriately.
Thank you for reading.
Alex Lebovits