On Yom Kippur, God examines the extent of his children’s progress over the course of the year. When we come properly prepared, the community of Israel – the source of all Jewish souls – merits to unite with the holy King, and we are all judged to live in freedom and joy.

The community of Israel is compared to a queen who is appointed over the education of the king’s children:

The holy King left His palace and His household under the control of the queen [namely, the community of Israel, understood as a spiritual entity]. He left His children with her, so that she would lead them…if they are deserving, the queen enters in joy and honor to the King. If they are not deserving, both she and they return to exile.

Prayers and fasting on Yom Kippur make forgiveness possible:

Therefore, there is one day in the year on which [God] examines them [the Jewish people]. When this day arrives, the mother above, in whose hands all freedom is found, [as true freedom is freedom from sin,] appears before Him, to look upon Israel. Israel are diligently engaging in various services, prayers, and afflictions, all to their merit. Then they are free, as freedom comes from that place, and all freedom is in the hands of the queen. The King’s children, her children, over whom she was appointed, are all found to have merit; all are without sin, without wrongdoing. Then she unites with the King, in light and joy, completely and willingly, as she has raised the children of the heavenly King in the proper manner. And when they are not found to be deserving on this day, woe to them! Woe to their emissaries! Alas, the queen has grown distant from the King. The mother above withdraws, and freedom does not descend from her to the worlds.

The joy of the Jewish people on Yom Kippur:

Happy are Israel, as the Holy One, blessed be He, taught them His ways so that they would be saved from judgment, and be found righteous before Him. This is as it is written: “For on this day He shall atone for you, to purify you” (Leviticus 16:30). (Zohar 3:102b)

Further reading: For more on Yom Kippur, see A Concise Guide to the Torah, pp. 293, 318; A Concise Guide to the Sages, p. 285; A Concise Guide to Halakha, p. 167.