Fall is a time of harvest and carnivals. Whether you celebrate Samhain, Sukkot or Mehregan, it’s a time to enjoy the fruits of your labor and prepare for the upcoming year. In the Jewish tradition, the New Year is celebrated about 15 days before Sukkot, the Feast of Booths. It’s an interesting season of reflection known as the High Holy Days. It’s as important to the Jews as Lent and Easter are to the Christians. Rosh Hashanah, the new year, commences the High Holy Days, and Yom Kippur wraps it up. Many Jewish athletes have refused to play on Yom Kippur, because it is such a holy day. It’s a time of confession and purity before God. You may not believe in a supreme being, but you can learn more about the Jewish culture by understanding Yom Kippur and transferring some its lessons into your own life.
The High Holy Days
Although the holy days begin with Rosh Hashanah, which translates from the Hebrew calendar into the Georgian calendar in the fall, the month prior to the day is spent in introspection. Special prayers are said each day. After morning services during the month, the shofar, or a ram’s horn, is blown as a way of reminding people that judgment is coming. People ask forgiveness of those they have wronged and increase their charitable giving. Many will read through the book of Psalms not once, but twice.
Although fasting is traditional on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, generally, after noon there will be a feast. Apples and honey are traditionally served as a symbol of having a sweet new year. The next 10 days are a time of prayer and repentance. It’s thought that on Rosh Hashanah, God pronounces judgment on the individual, but does not seal his or her fate until Yom Kippur, giving each person time to mend one’s ways and change God’s mind.
On Yom Kippur, Jews attend synagogue most of the day in prayer and repentance. Jewish holidays actually begin on the eve before the designated day. Fasting begins at sundown one night and continues until nightfall the next day. There are generally five prayer service for Yom Kippur. A person may wear white as a symbol of purity. Many Orthodox Jews immerse in a mikveh to purify their body. It’s also considered appropriate to abstain from marital relations in addition to fasting from food and drink.
What Can You Take From Yom Kippur?
The Jews are ready for the new year by having a clean conscience and knowing that they are right with God. Individually, you could look at your broken relationships and decide if these connections are worth repairing. Don’t let time get away from you. We aren’t guaranteed that our loved ones will be here tomorrow. It’s difficult to live with regrets that you hurt someone without making amends. However, only you can decide what is best for your own heart. Don’t feel pressured to make up with someone who isn’t good for you.
One Jewish rabbi makes the proposition that Jews should focus on the good things they do. Instead of only confessing one’s sins, one should also confess their good deeds. This advice makes sense. Although you should definitely attempt to remedy those things you have done wrong, there comes a point when it’s time to simply forgive yourself and move forward. You might not be able to make an apology for the candy bar you stole in high school, but as long as you’re not stealing now, let go of your mistakes and remember that you are learning, you are compassionate and you are merciful, or whatever character traits you do exhibit.