Below is the teaching of Chaplain (soon to be Rabbi) Adam Ruditsky in conjunction with the book Preparing yourself for the High Holidays.
רפואה מן התורה
The sin offering atones for all the transgressions in the Torah, those violated intentionally and those violated inadvertently (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Laws for Repentance)
Perkei Avot says to be careful regarding the small and be careful regarding the senior mitzvot. A mitzvah is just not a good need, like opening your spouse’s door when you get in the car, but it is an act of character. Now, why we cannot please every person who we encounter, the fact is that how we conduct ourselves is about our own character. If we neglect what we consider a small thing; a smile, a hello, being present in listening, lending a helping hand not based on value of the need, or what have you - although we may not consider it as such - that is a direct reflection of our character. Conversely, if a large thing is giving a helping hand to people who we consider more important, involve ourselves in a project only for self-gain, gravitate towards others because of money or religion in terms of inequality with different groups, well that is also an issue of character. The fact is that when we do things like that I think it is safe to say that most people do not set out to hurt others, but that is the result too often. We cannot control how others perceive us but we can control holding the small and the senior mitzvot as equals. How we act has more power than we may think, and our characters offer lots of light even if we cannot see another person’s darkness.
Once we can clean up the environment of souls we offer cleaner air to breathe freely
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