[img]96|left|||no_popup[/img] Dateline Jerusalem — Water? Okay. Watermelon? Okay. More water? Okay. Fruit, like refrigerated or frozen grapes? Okay. More water? Okay. No coffee or caffeine drinks like cola or tea. Okay. More water? Okay. Honey cake? Okay. More water? Okay. No salty or spicy foods, but okay to smell spices. Okay. More water? Okay. Plan pre-fast menu high in carbohydrates, protein, oil and fats to delay emptying of my stomach. Okay. More water? Okay. No salad or high fiber foods that go through digestive system too fast. Okay. More water? Okay. I must hydrate myself and avoid caffeinated drinks that might put my body into caffeine withdrawal and cause a major migraine. I think I am drowning!

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year for Jews around the world. It is a day in which we fast for 25 hours without food or water. We fast to focus on our soul rather than our body. It is a means of de-emphasizing the physical and stressing the spiritual since it is the most spiritual day of the year. In fact, we are often compared to angels who have no physical needs. That is why so many Jews are dressed in white clothing on Yom Kippur. Angels often are perceived as having large white wings and white attire. The above is my checklist to prepare for the fast.

On Rosh Hashana, we ask to be inscribed in the Book of Life, but on Yom Kippur the “verdict” is sealed. During those interim days we ask for forgiveness from G-d and our fellow man for our sins. We also try to amend our behavior and thoughts. No matter how hard I try and how much I give to charity, I seem to regress and commit the same sins year after year. When the Yom Kippur prayer service in synagogue goes into pages and pages of confession of sins, it becomes a very meaningful event for me.

We also avoid luxuries such as wearing leather (a sign of wealth in the olden days) or gold jewelry (a reminder of the sin of the Golden Calf), anointing ourselves with lotions and oils, taking long hot baths, and doing anything that may satisify our physical needs and desires. There actually is a long list of don'ts. My next checklist includes candles to bring in the holiday and memorial candles to light for deceased family, white non-leather shoes (finally found a pair made of canvas), white blouse and skirt with matching white hat to cover my head, and even a white plastic band for my wristwatch.

So in this year of 5772 of the Jewish calendar, I wish everyone a “Shana Tova uGmar Chatima Tova,” which means “Have a good year and may you be inscribed in the Book of Life for good (sealed).” May you be sealed for a year of happiness, prosperity, and health.

L'hitraot. Shachar.