Days of Awe

Days of Awe

Today is erev Yom Kippur, the eve of Yom Kippur. Last week Jews around the world celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. There wasn’t any apple coming down some tower, or cheap paper hats and plastic noise makers. No, there was prayer and confession and celebration in honor of the Creator of the World on the anniversary of the Creation. We asked the Creator to inscribe us in the Book of Life for the New Year, as well as for other kindnesses and mercies.

Now, after 40 days of special prayers and remembrances, especially the last 10 days, we are about to enter the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur. We will fast (no food or water – at all) for about 26 hours.

We confess our sins, pray for forgiveness and ask for another year. On Yom Kippur, the Creator makes the final determination of who shall live and who shall die, who will be sick and who will be well, who will prosper and who will fail – how we will be challenged in the year ahead.

Our New Year’s resolutions are more than simply to lose a few pounds or to quit smoking. We resolve to make significant changes in ourselves, so that we can come closer to the Creator in the coming year and help the Creator with His plans for kindness and mercy for the world.

There is obviously more to it than that, but this kind of sums it up for those who are not familiar with this time of year. We pray for peace and that we don’t have a repeat of the 1973 Yom Kippur surprise attack by our “peaceful” Arab neighbors.

Be well, Y’all
Mel