What is Yom Kippur? There are many who have never heard of it, and I'd imagine quite a few more who've heard of it but are not sure exactly what it is. For the simplest definition, one could say that Yom Kippur is a Jewish holy day of atonement on the tenth day of the month Tishrei. Now, I don't know many people who have a calendar with Tishrei in it. I promise you it's not hiding between any of the months. Tishrei is the seventh month of the Jewish Calendar which follows a lunar cycle. This year it happened to coincide with sundown on October 7th, to sundown on October 8th.
There are plenty of customs that I am not familiar with myself when it comes to Yom Kippur. The basic physical rule that most people are aware of is the 25 hour fast. This period of time lasts from sundown on the evening of the first day through sunset of the second. This holy day concludes what is called the High Holy days which started with Rosh Hashana. During this time, tradition holds that each person faces judgment and that it is not until Yom Kppur that the verdict is sealed, that all who will die have been predetermined and those to live entered in the book of life.
Yom Kippur, as noted above, is a day of atonement and seeking for forgiveness. But the prayers of that day, are asking only for forgiveness for sins between the individual and the Lord. For forgiveness between individuals, no amount of prayer will rectify wrongs without each individual asking the other for forgiveness. In addition to seeking for forgiveness, and atonement, Yom Kippur is a day of reflection. To look inward and try to see ourselves not through our own eyes, but the eyes of others. Often people will accept faults in themselves, that they do not in others, and accept errors friends make, that we do not accept in strangers. It is one of our own faults to have differing standards.
It is difficult to analyze oneself truthfully. To admit that we have both strengths, and weaknesses. Yom Kippur seems a day to focus on our short comings, our failures, whether known or not. That phrase, whether known or unknown, is a common adage to the prayers of the day, admitting our own lack of sight. But it is also important to remember each one of us is valuable beyond measure. Every life is sacred. It does not matter what today is. Each is an opportunity for a moment of reflection. What was the last good deed you have done, what was the last time you committed an error, and can it still be resolved? Each day is an chance to grow.
With Yom Kippur over now, for quite some time, it is still important to remember the reason why Jews observe the holy day. All people make mistakes, and sometimes our actions inadvertently harm others, and other times we can be malicious. Just because the day is over, does not mean that we should forget about trying to see ourselves. It is a long process, and one that is applicable to anyone, of any race and any religion. The goal is to become a better person. It takes effort and perseverance. It may not feel rewarding, nor fun, but it will be. Small steps is all it takes. Day by day, and just imagine a world where everyone is just trying a little bit harder to do good. What that world might look like.
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