When Are We Written and When Are We Sealed?

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When Are We Written
and When Are We Sealed?

בראש השנה יכתבון
וביום צום כיפור יחתמון

On Rosh Hashanah will be inscribed and on Yom Kippur will be sealed.

THE QUESTION
To whom is the Paytan referring?

Chazal tell us that both, Tzadikim and Reshoim, have the Kesiva and Chasima on Rosh Hashanah.

The Beinonim have the Kesiva and Chasima on Yom Kippur.

The Difficulty:
If the writing and sealing take place on the same day for each group, why does the Paytan describe the writing on Rosh Hashanah and the sealing on Yom Kippur?

Three Possible Answers

A. A Different Opinion

The Paytan disagrees with Reb Kruspadoai and holds that all have the Kesiva on Rosh Hashanah and the Chasima on Yom Kippur.

B. The Beinonim

The Beinonim can have their Kesiva on day 1 or day 2, 3, 4, etc., until Yom Kippur (depending when he did Teshuva).

Some Beinonim have the Kesiva on Rosh Hashanah and others have it on Yom Kippur, but all Beinonim have the Chasima on Yom Kippur.

(מהרש״א ראש השנה)

C. The Individual and the Community

For Yechidim (individuals):
The Kesiva and Chasima happen the same day.

Tzadikim and Reshoim on Rosh Hashanah and Beinonim on Yom Kippur.

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For the Tzibbur:
(Kehilla, City, Country, etc.)

If the Tzibbur is Beinoni, the Kesiva is on Rosh Hashanah and the Chasima on Yom Kippur.

(שו״ת מהר״ם שיק, אורח חיים סימן ש׳)

כתיבה וחתימה טובה

May we all be written and sealed for a good year.

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