On the eve of the Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, we reflect on the power of the day and the opportunity for atonement.
In our prayers, particularly the “Al Chait” recitation, seeking forgiveness for a long list of sins committed during the past year, we pray as a group, using the word “we,” not “I,” as we beat our breasts. And those are limited to the transgressions between our Creator and us. As for those sins committed against our fellow man, we must ask for forgiveness from the aggrieved party directly. It’s yet another reminder of the responsibility we each have for the actions we take and the words we speak. But Yom Kippur offers us the chance to cleanse our inner slate and begin again, with renewed commitment to improve. Such a gift.
