Season of Forgiveness

Last Hanukkah, my mother gave me a snow globe with a Star of David inside. Sometimes when I shake it, and see all the particles fly apart and then gather together, I am reminded of something a rabbi once told me: “When we depart, our souls go up and then connect with other souls to come back and continue G-d’s work.” If she is right, we are truly more connected than we ever imagined. 

We are days away from the Jewish holy day, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). From sundown on September 24th through sundown on September 25th, many Jewish people will spend the day fasting, attending temple, and praying. This holy time is a day to confess sins, ask for forgiveness, and focus on abandoning jealousy and strife. 

As we move closer to autumn, we may sense a starting over, no matter our faith or secular tradition. There is a feeling that things are ending, but the bright fall colors reassure us that change is not always terrible. There is often beauty before rebirth. There is often rest before awakening. And sometimes, saying I’m sorry is the path to that new start. 

In this holy time, dear reader, I ask you to spend some time in contemplation. Have you held on to anger or strife? Do you need to apologize to yourself or to someone else for something that is heavily weighing on your heart? How often have great relationships ended just because we were unable to acknowledge our part in the separation? 

To me, we are just like the little specks in my snow globe. Life sometimes throws us in many different directions, and sometimes we find ourselves far apart, divided over deeply held opinions or differing beliefs. Yet, in the end, we can come back together in a state of holy Oneness. It’s never too late to say I am sorry to G-d, to family, or to friends. Perhaps one of the most holy of gifts is forgiveness.