As the most sacred day in Jewish life, Yom Kippur,
approaches, people in Israel and Jewish communities all over the world are
engulfed by the greatness of the day, trembling as we face the moment of
judgment.
The ten days of forgiveness are about to be over,
reflection and deliberation over past year’s deeds, between one human to
another, between the individual and the Almighty, allow us to look into our
daily life, to look into our inner souls and hope to improve in the year to
come, to do good, if not better.
On this day, brothers and sisters, people of Jewish
religion and faith are united by the sanctity and might of the day, by the
humility of soul searching and pride of Jewish identity and the revival of our
people.
In synagogues, on many lips, in the privacy of the
moment, the powerful words of the most touching of prayers of this day,
reflection of our history and Jewish civilization will give voice to our wishes
and prayers.
Yom Kippur is a day when community and private meet and
still keep separate, respecting the greatness of the day. Prayers I heard as a
child at home, those prayers, two of which I would like to share with you, will
help me through the day, through my own soul searching and the emotions of past
years occurrences, calling to “Open the Gate” as the day, the day our verdict
is sealed, is great and powerful.
El Nora Alila, אל נורא עלילה
And U’Netana Tokef
May we be inscribed
in the Book of Living.