Autumn, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur

 In three days September 28 we celebrate Rosh Hashanah. In early October, the 7th and 8th is Yom Kippur. While the New Year is great I like the idea of Yom Kippur better, especially because it is about atonement and forgiveness --both giving and receiving. I struggled with these ideas until I realized that while they are tied to scripture they do not conflict with my own views about religion. Yom Kippur just makes sense socially, emotionally, and intellectually. It feels good to assess one's contradictions, the mean and nasty things we've done throughout the year and those that have been done against us. It feels good to let these go. Hate and avarice are not good family values and eat at one's being if we practice them. Yom Kippur is about asking and giving forgiveness especially to one's self. This should not be confused with the act of confession. Self-forgiveness does not mean that you do an act of contrition and then after absolution go back out and commit the same act. It is about assessing your weaknesses and launching a course of action to avoid repetition.
Next month go inside of your denial and find a way to start the act of self-forgiveness. Only after you are willing to forgive yourself can you forgive others. Give yourself a break!  In Ladino: le hayim and in Yiddish: l'chaim!!