The 10th Day of Tishrei. That’s (tonight and) tomorrow’s Hebrew Date, which means it will be Yom Kipur. The end of 40 days of introspection, repentance, and preparing ourselves to be better humans and to make the world a better place- with renewed vigor.
Yom Kipur also means that we neither eat nor drink for some 25 hours. This abstinence begins before sundown tonight (we need to be in the synagogue to hear the all important prayer-Kol Nidrei- which is recited when it is still clearly daylight hours) until 45 minutes after sunset tomorrow.
Yom Kipur is also the 10th day of the 10 days of T’shuva. Too often in English, this period is translated as the 10 Days of Repentance. Of course, that is one potential translation of the word.
But a more appropriate choice would be ‘a return’. A return to our intimate conversations and relationship with Hashem, the Supreme Being. That return makes it possible for us to truly the see the good in everyone (yes, sometimes that is very hard); after all, we are all children of Hashem. It makes it possible for us to try that little bit harder to make this world a better place.
(Yom Kipur is also known as the “Day of Atonement”, which can also be considered the “Day of At One Ment”…)
No matter what your religion, may you find that return, that intimate conversation and relationship with the Supreme Being.
Given the state of the world today, we all could use that counsel and see our way to making the state of the world better for all of us.
גמר חתימה טובה
G’mar Chatima Tova… May you be sealed in the book of health, happiness, and prosperity.
And the same to you. Our world is so broken and my best friend ‘s sisters may be in a medical crisis. So much healing is needed.
The key point is that we can make changes ANY day of the year- we don’t have to rely on the timing of Yom Kipur!
Thinking of you and your family as you celebrate Yom Kipur and yes, we all need to work on making the world a better place.
Well, according to the reports last night (when we all had the chance to get a bite of food and some water), we all had wonderful experiences and are ready to tackle our goals for the coming year.
I think that we all need a time of return and introspection. It isn’t easy to focus on becoming a better human. I know that I struggle with that. Maybe being in the synogogue with other people who also struggle with becoming better humans is a help.
It helps when you realize you are not alone- the power of the voices (in prayer) reinforces the feeling. Followed by long periods of (relative) silence to collect one’s thoughts.
Lovely post—I’m all in favor of a return for trying to find the good in others and making this world a better place.
Thanks so much for the compliment, Marcia. Let’s do it- each and every day!