Rosh Hashanah has passed, marking the beginning of a new year, and now comes Yom Kippur, the significant Jewish observance known as the Day of Atonement. This day allows individuals the opportunity to seek forgiveness and wraps up the “10 Days of Awe,” a period dedicated to introspection and repentance known as “teshuvah.”
As a child, I had mixed feelings about Yom Kippur. The lengthy services and the strains of fasting were challenging, yet I appreciated the stillness it demanded. My family often returned home after the primary service, savoring a slow passage of time until sunset, discussing the sermon, and looking forward to the large muffins we would enjoy at the community break fast.
In this year, when the world feels increasingly chaotic, dedicating a day to solemn reflection is especially vital.
Yom Kippur encourages generosity of spirit, inviting us to believe that God sees our best selves and helps us uncover those aspects within. In that spirit, I present a guide to atonement for both Jewish and non-Jewish individuals.
First, reflect on mortality. Yom Kippur requires us to confront the fragility of life. Central to the observance is a reading titled Unetaneh Tokef, which contemplates the myriad ways one might face death in the coming year. This reading serves as a reminder to recognize life’s value, demanding that we honor it through virtuous living.
However, living well, as envisioned on Yom Kippur, emphasizes acts of kindness rather than self-indulgence. It calls for sharing excess wealth with those in need, offering patience to friends in distress, and extending a hand to help others, illustrating that repairing the world often involves small, thoughtful actions rather than grand gestures.
Next, embrace humility. Rabbi David Wolpe of Sinai Temple articulated a poignant truth in 2018: “We all live with a gun to our head and no one knows when it’s going to go off.” Yom Kippur presents a chance to confront the reality that tomorrow is never promised, regardless of our aspirations for eternal youth.
Seeking forgiveness demands humility as well. This holiday is not a passive experience; it calls for taking one’s atonement into the world, humbling oneself in front of others, and offering genuine apologies without the certainty of receiving forgiveness in return. It requires performing good deeds without any expectation of reward or acknowledgment.
Finally, allow space for hope. Yom Kippur complements Rosh Hashanah, enabling us to reflect on our failures—both personally and collectively—while aspiring for a better year ahead. The hope that arises from this reflection is not a simple wish; rather, it is an honest pursuit informed by our past mistakes.
As the sun sets on Yom Kippur each year, Jewish people embrace that hope, acknowledging life’s uncertainties while vowing to enrich our lives, our communities, and the world with goodness.