Tonight will be the 10th Day of Tishrei.  This Hebrew date means it is actually the special day of Yom Kipur.  This culminates the 40 days of introspection, repentance, and preparing ourselves to be better humans and to make the world a better place- with renewed vigor.  (While the closing prayer of Yom Kipur is called Ne’ila, the locking or the closing of the gates, many Jewish folks consider the 7th day of Sukot- coming up in 12 days (Hoshana Raba) to be the true closing of the books of judgment by Hashem, the Supreme Being.)

This special day of Yom Kipur means that we are neither permitted to 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) until 45 minutes after sunset tomorrow.

Yom Kipur is also the 10^th 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 of a definition would be a ‘return’.  A return to our intimate conversations and relationship with Hashem.  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.

G’mar Chatima Tova…  May you be sealed in the book of health, happiness, and prosperity.

There will be no post tomorrow!

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