Blog

Once again we prepare for Yom Kippur and in so doing we ask ourselves this single question: has much changed? Has much changed since last Yom Kippur? Conflicts around the world shift territory and population. Israel is praised or challenged. Grandchildren are born. Loved ones leave us. Our children are older… which means, so are we. Are we any wiser?

Judaism’s role in our lives isn’t to make us feel guilty about what we haven’t done. It is to offer us perspective and direction. Yom Kippur reminds us that life is a gift. In the same way that we marvel at the birth of a child, so this season sparks renewed wonder at our own existence. From that sense of awe, we move towards personal action: how will I face this year more purposefully? How will I make sure that, one year from now, I do not have to wonder, “has much changed?”…

Though challenge and conflict might daunt us, Judaism can uplift and embolden us to act with courage, principle, and impact. It is in that spirit that I wish you a purposeful Yom Kippur and a meaningful – and good - 5778.