Dateline Jerusalem – I must apologize for a short essay this week. I have been ill since Rosh Hashana. What does that mean for me in the upcoming year? Only that my prayers and repentance must be stronger, more sincere, and my charitable contributions greater.
Tonight begins Yom Kippur, the Day of Judgment, the Day of Atonement. The holiest day of the year, it is a time that expresses my relationship with G-d. There is more than 25-hour fast from food and drink, from washing or anointing ourselves with creams or fragrance, from having marital relations, from wearing leather shoes, beginning at sundown tonight, ending with a joyous break-the-fast Saturday night. For Yom Kippur is when G-d seals those inscribed in the Book of Life. It is when everything about my life for the next year will be determined, health, happiness, security, prosperity, safety. Will I merit a good and sweet life? What will be the fate of my family, my fellow Jews, Israel? Will our repentance be accepted, our sins forgiven? Just as in a court of law, what will be the verdict? What will be our judgment? I hope my prayers will be accepted and granted.
I am prepared for the holiday. I just heard the blowing of the shofar. Such a beautiful sound to my ears. It is one of the wonderful things about being in Israel, where there is a synagogue on almost every block and the traditional shofar blowing can be heard while just sitting in my apartment. I will do the ritual Kaparot where my sins are allegedly transferred to the coins I swing around my head three times and then donated to charity. In some communities in Israel, live chickens and roosters are substituted for the coins, then slaughtered and donated to the poor for their pre-fast meals. Over the centuries there has been controversy about this practice. Then I will partake in my pre-fast meals.
Later I will prepare for shul (synagogue) to be dressed in white from head to toe, with non-leather shoes. The white is symbolic of the “spiritual angels.” I won't be a fashion statement in my pristine white outfit and white rubber clunky looking Crocs and no jewelry. But I should not be. Yom Kippur is a solemn time of prayer and repentance, not a time for thinking of who has the cutest outfit.
Yom Kippur brings Jews of every sector to synagogue. The entire congregation ends the day united as Jews, calling out the Shema, “Hear O Israel…G-d is one.” The prayer service is concluded with the final blast of the ram's horn, the shofar, and the congregation proclaiming “Next year in Jerusalem.” What could be more joyous?
G'mar chativa tova, which means a good sealing. Wishing those of you who fast, an easy fast.
L'hitraot. Shachar